CHAPTER V - THE PROCLAMATION OF THE THIRD ANGEL

This Proclamation not a Past Event - It Relates to the Work of the Two-Horned Beast - The Ten-Horned Beast - Its Identity with the Little Horn of Daniel 7 - The Seven Heads - The Ten Horns - The Deadly Wound - The Mouth Speaking Great Things - Fate 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 forever 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. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Verses 9-12.TMR 73.1

THIS is the most solemn warning that the Bible contains. As the pen of inspiration has recorded this language for our instruction, it will be wise for us to listen and obey. It is certain that the record of our world’s history presents no testimony that this message has been heard in the past. And the fact that the first and second angels of this series have been proved to belong to the present generation, most clearly establishes the point that this message does not belong to the past ages.TMR 73.2

Says J. W. Himes, in 1847: “But the fourteenth chapter [of Revelation] presents an astounding cry, yet to be made, as a warning to mankind in that hour of strong temptation. Verses 9-11. A denunciation of wrath so dreadful cannot be found in the book of God, besides this. Does it not imply a strong temptation, to require so terrific an admonition?” ^{1“Facts on Romanism,” p.112.}TMR 74.1

The work of the two-horned beast in performing miracles, and causing those that dwell upon the earth, by means of those miracles, to form an image to the beast which all men must worship, certainly pertains to the future. The Third Angel’s Message is a warning to prepare the church for this fearful scene. In proof of this fact, we place the prophecy respecting the two-horned beast, and the warning of the third angel, in contrast:-TMR 74.2

Of the two-horned beast the prophet says: “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.... 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. 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.” Chap. 13:12-17.TMR 74.3

Of the warning of the third angel he says: “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 forever 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.” Revelation 14:9-11.TMR 75.1

A comparison of these scriptures shows us what an hour of temptation and anguish there is yet before us. If men worship the beast and his image, they will receive of the wine of the wrath of God; and if they refuse, it is at the peril of their lives at the hands of men. This doubtless refers to the time when all who dwell upon the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life, shall worship the beast. Revelation 13:8.TMR 75.2

That we may understand the cause of this fearful warning against the worship of the beast and his image, and the reception of his mark, it is necessary that we should examine the testimony respecting the beast, and also the two-horned beast that causes the image to be made to the first beast. What, then, is the beast?TMR 75.3

This question may be answered by referring to Revelation 13:1-10. When Daniel, in his vision of the seventh chapter, was shown the various empires that should successively bear rule over the earth, they were represented under the symbols of beasts arising from the sea. Three of these having passed away in John’s day, it is proper that the fourth of this series, only, should be shown to him. The beast with ten horns, described by Daniel, is also seen by John to ascend out of the sea.TMR 75.4

In him were blended the marks of all the preceding beasts, - the body of the leopard, the feet of the bear, and the mouth of the lion. Daniel 7:4-6. The beast is evidently the papal form of the fourth empire; for it receives its power and seat from the dragon, imperial Rome. Verse 2. In proof of this, we present the following evidence as arranged by Litch. He is showing the identity of the papal power in Daniel 7 with the beast of Revelation 13:1-10.TMR 76.1

“1. The little horn was to be a blasphemous power. ‘He shall speak great words against the Most High.’ Daniel 7:25. So, also, was the beast of Revelation 13:6 to do the same. ‘He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God.’TMR 76.2

“2. The little horn ‘made war with the saints, and prevailed against them.’ Daniel 7:21. Thus the beast of Revelation 13:7 was also ‘to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.’TMR 76.3

“3. The little horn had a ‘mouth that spake very great things.’ Daniel 7:8, 20. So, likewise, there was given the beast of Revelation 13:5 ‘a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.’TMR 76.4

“4. Power was given the little horn of Daniel 7:25, ‘until a time, times, and the dividing of time.’ To the beast, also, power was given to ‘continue forty and two months.’ Revelation 13:5.TMR 76.5

“5. The domination of the little horn was to be taken away at the termination of that specified period. The beast of Revelation 13:10, who led into captivity and put to death with the sword so many of the saints, was himself to be led into captivity, and be killed with the sword, at the end of the forty and two months.TMR 77.1

“With these points of similarity in the two emblems, the little horn and the beast, who can doubt their identity? ^{1“Restitution,” pp.119,120.}TMR 77.2

“The dragon (imperial Rome) gave unto the beast (papal Rome) his power, and his seat, and great authority.”TMR 77.3

We have before proved that the city of Rome was the seat of the dragon, which is here represented as transferred to the beast. It is well known that the seat of empire was by the emperor Constantine removed from Rome to Constantinople; and that Rome itself, at a later period, was given to the popes by the Emperor Justinian.TMR 77.4

The seven heads are seven forms of civil power which successively bear rule. These seven heads belong alike to the dragon of Revelation 12, the beast of chap. 13, and that of chap. 17. This shows conclusively that the dragon and these two beasts are symbols of the same power under different heads for there are not three sets of seven heads, but it is evident that the heads are successive forms of its power, one of them bearing rule at a time, and then giving place to another. Revelation 17:9, 10. It appears that the dragon of chap. 12 and the beast of chap. 13 and that of chap. 17 each represents some one or more of the seven heads yet as each is seen with the seven heads, they must each in a certain sense extend over all the period covered by the three symbols; for there are not twenty-one heads. The proper period of each seems to be this: the dragon before the 1260 years, the beast of chap. 13, during that period, and the beast of chap. 17 since the deadly wound and captivity at the close of that period.TMR 77.5

The ten horns are the ten kingdoms of the fourth empire. They are distinct from the seven heads, and hence the ten kingdoms are not to be counted as one of the heads as some have done. The horns are contemporary, that is, all reign at the same time; while the heads are successive, but one existing at a time. It seems that John in Revelation 13:1-10, goes twice over the history of the beast, once in verses 1-3, and again in verses 4-10. We now inquire respecting the time when the beast received its deadly wound. That this event took place at the close of the 1260 years and not before the commencement of that period or during its continuance, we think evident from the following facts:-TMR 78.1

1. A head wounded before that period would not be a head of the beast, but a head of the dragon. The prophecy does not relate to the wounding of a head of the dragon, to make way for the rise of the beast, as some suppose, but to the wounding of a head of the beast.TMR 78.2

2. Nor could it take place during the 1260 years; for it is said that the beast receives his power and seat from this dragon, and that from that time he was to have power for 1260 years, so that he should be able to overcome the saints, and should have power over all kindreds and tongues and nations. This 1260 years’ rule began with the act of the dragon in giving his seat, the city of Rome, unto the beast, in 538, and ended in 1798, when the city of Rome was taken from the beast, and his power was wrested from him. During this period, therefore, the deadly wound and overthrow of the beast could not take place.TMR 78.3

3. The time when the beast received this deadly wound seems to be clearly marked in verse 10. It is there stated that he that leadeth into captivity and killeth with the sword, must be led into captivity and killed with the sword. That is, the papal power, which had thus acted for 1260 years, must at the close of that period of triumph be thus used. Such were the facts in 1798. So John goes over the history of the beast twice, first in verses 1-3, ending with the deadly wound; and the second time in verses 4-10, ending with the beast’s being led into captivity and slain. This is the event predicted in Daniel 7:26: “They shall take away his dominion.”TMR 79.1

The mouth given to the beast speaking great words and blasphemies, evidently signifies the same as the mouth of the little horn of Daniel 7, which should speak great words against the Most High, and think to change times and laws. It is the papacy claiming infallibility, and pretending to be the vicar of God upon earth. That this prophecy has been fulfilled in the most wonderful manner, and that the 1260 years of papal triumph expired about the close of the last century, cannot be denied. The papal power was then subverted, and the seat of the dragon wrested from him. We believe, however, that verse 8 - “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” - has never yet been fully accomplished. It is certain that the time never yet has been when all except true Christians worshiped the beast. But this time is yet to be witnessed in the fulfillment of the prophecy respecting the two-horned beast. We expect this in the hour of temptation that shall come on all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. It is in view of this scene that the third angel utters his voice of warning. The beast of Revelation 13:1-10, though wounded with a deadly wound, was to recover from that wound, and must, according to Revelation 19:19, 20 and Daniel 7:7-11, continue till the battle of the great day of God Almighty, after which he is to be cast into the lake of fire.TMR 79.2