In the determination of the correct sequence of last day events, it is necessary at the outset to correctly locate the dominant landmarks. Once these are secured in their rightful positions, it becomes a fairly simple matter to fill in the finer details. This organized approach to the subject under the inspired tutelage of that Master-Teacher, the Holy Spirit, is guaranteed to build an accurate structure of truth.
So, we look for the event which stands out as the one up to and beyond which the lines of sequence can be drawn, which event we find to be the setting up of the image of the beast as described in Revelation 13:11-18.
"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
"And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
"He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
"And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
"He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
"He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
"and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
"Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666."
It is assumed that the readers will have a sound and basic understanding of the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation, and will therefore know that the first beast referred to in this passage and as set forth in the first ten verses of the chapter, is none other than the papal power which ruled supreme over the world for the 1,260 years from 538-1798 A.D. It will also be understood that the lamb like beast who rises to power after the temporary demise of the first beast, is none other than the power of Apostate Protestantism especially as cradled in the United States of America.
Before locating the setting up of the image, it is necessary to understand just what this symbol portrays. A correct and accurate identification of this power is essential at this stage, for, without it, we would start down the wrong road.
So, what is an image?
It is a likeness, reproduction double, replica, clone, copy, spitting image, chip off the old block, dead ringer of that which was there before; the same thing all over again.
Normally, we think of an image as being a piece of carved stone in the form of a person, animal, or something else, whom other men wish to honor. It may also be cast in concrete, bronze, or a precious metal such as gold or silver. Though the making of a graven image is expressly forbidden in the second commandment, there are certain professedly Christian churches which have installed in their houses of worship, from a few up to considerable numbers of images of what they imagine Christ and His mother looked like. They believe that in those "works of art", they have reproduced an accurate likeness of the originals, and that the Lord looks upon their "devotion" with unqualified approval.
But none of these images qualify to be the special case before us—the image of the beast. This is where literalists go beyond reason, as popular Protestant evangelists waltz into fairy-land ideas with God's intentions in the warning of His people.
In the first case, the images of stone, concrete, bronze, gold, and silver are all inanimate, whereas the image for which we are looking, is both living and intelligent; having the power to speak and to enforce its will under penalty of death. These capacities are plainly revealed in these words:
"He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed." Revelation 13:15.
This certainly is no inanimate carving or casting, but is a living force determined to obtain submission to his will no matter what the cost to others might be. It is the lamb like beast, which later speaks with the voice of the dragon himself, that will give breath to the image. To put breath into the image is to impart life to it so that it becomes a living power. Thus it is that the image of the beast "speaks". He demands that he, the image of the beast, should be worshiped, and decrees that those who refuse to render him homage shall suffer the death decree.
It is highly significant and of great value to us that he is declared to be the "image of the beast", for this alerts us to the fact that he is but a reappearance of a power which has already run its course in history. What the former did previously, his image is certain to do again, which means that the better we understand the spirit, character, policies, and operations of the unrighteous beast, the better we will know what to expect from his iniquitous image.
So then, who was the beast whose image is given life in these last days?
Here, in the inspired Word, is the answer:
"By this first beast is represented the Roman Church, an ecclesiastical body clothed with civil power, having authority to punish all dissenters. The image to the beast represents another religious body clothed with similar powers." The Story of Redemption, 381.
The question as to who was the first beast is clearly answered. It is the papacy who, with the authority and might of the civil powers, held the world in bondage from 538-1798 A.D. Its use of these forces to arbitrarily enforce her will upon all earth dwellers, is a readily identifiable characteristic of its existence, for it is the nature of the beast in question here to operate thus.
When another church organization which, on a worldwide scale, acquires the authority of the state and uses that to enforce its own worship, then there has been created a reproduction or image of the first. The beast belongs to the past and has come and gone although its spirit and teachings live boldly on, while the image is still in the future.
When it comes, it will be far more powerful than the Roman Church of the Middle Ages, and every bit as ruthless and remorseless. Terrible indeed is the struggle through which God's people are soon to pass. It will require the faith of Jesus to conquer the image of the beast.
This all indicates that there will be remarkable and extensive changes away from the blessed freedom to worship God according to our own personal convictions, or if we choose, not to worship Him at all. Let us make the most of our precious opportunities which we now enjoy, for they are not here to stay. All too soon, religious oppression and fearful persecution are to be the weapons by which the image of the beast will seek to establish its undisputed supremacy.
Today, we long for the latter rain to fall and pray most earnestly for the reception of that wonderful blessing without realizing the awful nature and extent of the image's response to this challenge to its claims, and the incredible exposure of its true character.
When that unparalleled time of trouble bursts upon us, some will be wishing for the return of our present, peaceful freedom. That this will be so is stated in these words: ". . . when the storm of opposition and reproach bursts upon them, some, overwhelmed with consternation, will be ready to exclaim: 'Had we foreseen the consequences of our words, we would have held our peace.' " The Great Controversy, 609.
I have met those who, cherishing the idea that modern man has left the ignorance and superstitious fears of the Dark Ages far behind, cannot believe that such utter denials of religious freedom could ever happen again, especially in the freedom-loving United States of America. But, the Word of the Living God has declared it will be so, and so it will be. The image of the beast will be set up and the same relentless persecutions practiced by the beast will be repeated by the image.
It is now time to ask several questions:
At what point of time will the image be set up?
What act upon the part of men will establish it?
And, what is involved in this?
These questions are answered by inspiration with indisputable clarity. Here are those answers:
"When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result..... The 'image to the beast' represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas." The Great Controversy, 445.
"Romanists declare that 'the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the [Catholic] Church.' —Mgr. Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, page 213. The enforcement of Sunday-keeping on the part of Protestant churches is an enforcement of the worship of the papacy—of the beast. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false instead of the true Sabbath, are thereby paying homage to that power by which alone it is commanded. But in the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power, the churches would themselves form an image to the beast; hence the enforcement of Sunday-keeping in the United States would be an enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image." The Great Controversy, 448, 449.
Thus is answered the question, "At what point of time will the image of the beast be set up?" It will be set up when the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as they hold in common, shall obtain the power of the civil authorities to enforce as law the decrees and injunctions of the Church itself especially in regard to Sunday legislation.
Signs that this terrible state of vile apostasy is soon to be enacted are appearing with increasing rapidity. Already the movement for church unity is well advanced and strides have been made in this direction that would not have been thought possible but a few short years ago. Many see in this unity a great blessing for the world and it is true that the prayer of Christ is for the unity of His people.
But, let us never forget that the unity for which Jesus prayed, is not the root, but the fruit. Firstly, each member of Christ's body becomes a member by virtue of the establishment of the life and truth of Jesus within him. Perfect unity is then found in each believer's having the same common bond of Jesus' life, love, and truth in his inward spiritual nature. No one can be a part of the unity for which Christ prayed, unless he actually experiences that miraculous change by which the old evil sin master is eradicated, and replaced by the seed of Christ.
