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earth daily adding to its power and pride。〃 The Dublin Nation。 Edward
Everett； in an oration on
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the Pilgrim founders of this nation； said： 〃Did they look for a retired
spot； inoffensive for its obscurity； and safe in its remoteness； where the
little church of Leyden might enjoy the freedom of conscience？ Behold the
mighty regions over which； in peaceful conquest； 。 。 。 they have borne the
banners of the cross！〃Speech delivered at Plymouth； Massachusetts； Dec。
22； 1824； page 11。
〃And he had two horns like a lamb。〃 The lamblike horns indicate youth；
innocence； and gentleness； fitly representing the character of the United
States when presented to the prophet as 〃coming up〃 in 1798。 Among the
Christian exiles who first fled to America and sought an asylum from royal
oppression and priestly intolerance were many who determined to establish a
government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty。 Their
views found place in the Declaration of Independence； which sets forth the
great truth that 〃all men are created equal〃 and endowed with the
inalienable right to 〃life； liberty； and the pursuit of happiness。〃 And the
Constitution guarantees to the people the right of self…government；
providing that representatives elected by the popular vote shall enact and
administer the laws。 Freedom of religious faith was also granted； every man
being permitted to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience。
Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the
nation。 These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity。 The
oppressed and downtrodden throughout Christendom have turned to this land
with interest and hope。 Millions have sought its shores； and the United
States has risen to a place among the most powerful nations of the earth。
But the beast with lamblike horns 〃spake as a dragon。 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； 。 。 。 saying to them that dwell on the earth； that they should make
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an image to the beast； which had the wound by a sword； and did live。〃
Revelation 13：11…14。
The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking
contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus
represented。 The 〃speaking〃 of the nation is the action of its legislative
and judicial authorities。 By such action it will give the lie to those
liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of
its policy。 The prediction that it will speak 〃as a dragon〃 and exercise
〃all the power of the first beast〃 plainly foretells a development of the
spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the nations
represented by the dragon and the leopardlike beast。 And the statement that
the beast with two horns 〃causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to
worship the first beast〃 indicates that the authority of this nation is to
be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to
the papacy。
Such action would be directly contrary to the principles of this government；
to the genius of its free institutions； to the direct and solemn avowals of
the Declaration of Independence； and to the Constitution。 The founders of
the nation wisely sought to guard against the employment of secular power on
the part of the church； with its inevitable result intolerance and
persecution。 The Constitution provides that 〃Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion； or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof；〃 and that 〃no religious test shall ever be required as a
qualification to any office of public trust under the United States。〃 Only
in flagrant violation of these safeguards to the nation's liberty； can any
religious observance be enforced by civil authority。 But the inconsistency
of such action is no greater than is represented in the symbol。 It is the
beast with lamblike hornsin profession pure； gentle； and harmlessthat
speaks as a dragon。
〃Saying to them that dwell on the earth； that they should
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make an image to the beast。〃 Here is clearly presented a form of government
in which the legislative power rests with the people； a most striking
evidence that the United States is the nation denoted in the prophecy。
But what is the 〃image to the beast〃？ and how is it to be formed？ The image
is made by the two…horned beast； and is an image to the beast。 It is also
called an image of the beast。 Then to learn what the image is like and how
it is to be formed we must study the characteristics of the beast
itselfthe papacy。
When the early church became corrupted by departing from the simplicity of
the gospel and accepting heathen rites and customs； she lost the Spirit and
power of God； and in order to control the consciences of the people； she
sought the support of the secular power。 The result was the papacy； a church
that controlled the power of the state and employed it to further her own
ends； especially for the punishment of 〃heresy。〃 In order for the United
States to form an image of the beast； the religious power must so control
the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed
by the church to accomplish her own ends。
Whenever the church has obtained secular power； she has employed it to
punish dissent from her doctrines。 Protestant churches that have followed in
the steps of Rome by forming alliance with worldly powers have manifested a
similar desire to restrict liberty of conscience。 An example of this is
given in the long…continued persecution of dissenters by the Church of
England。 During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries； thousands of
nonconformist ministers were forced to flee from their churches； and many；
both of pastors and people； were subjected to fine； imprisonment； torture；
and martyrdom。
It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil
government； and this prepared the way for the development of the papacythe
beast。 Said Paul： 〃There〃 shall 〃come a falling away； 。 。 。 and that man of
sin be
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revealed。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：3。 So apostasy in the church will prepare the
way for the image to the beast。
The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord there will exist a
state of religious declension similar to that in the first centuries。 〃In
the last days perilous times shall come。 For men shall be lovers of their
own selves； covetous； boasters； proud； blasphemers； disobedient to parents；
unthankful； unholy； without natural affection； trucebreakers； false
accusers； incontinent； fierce； despisers of those that are good； traitors；
heady； high…minded； lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God； having a
form of godliness； but denying the power thereof。〃 2 Timothy 3：1…5。 〃Now the
Spirit speaketh expressly； that in the latter times some shall depart from
the faith； giving heed to seducing spirits； and doctrines of devils。〃 1
Timothy 4：1。 Satan will work 〃with all power and signs and lying wonders；
and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness。〃 And all that 〃received not
the love of the truth； that they might be saved；〃 will be left to accept
〃strong delusion； that they should believe a lie。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：9…11。
When this state of ungodliness shall be reached； the same results will
follow as in the first centuries。
The wide diversity of belief in the Protestant churches is regarded by many
as decisive proof that no effort to secure a forced uniformity can ever be
made。 But there has been for years； in churches of the Protestant faith； a
strong and growing sentiment in favor of a union based upon common points of
doctrine。 To secure such a union； the discussion of subjects upon which all
were not agreedhowever important they might be from a Bible
standpointmust necessarily be waived。
Charles Beecher； in a sermon in the year 1846； declared that the ministry of
〃the evangelical Protestant denominations〃 is 〃not only f