When "The" Church Rides the Beast

Chapter 27

 

The Beast Like Satan

  

“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).

 

A second beast comes onto the end-time scene. This creature will be noted as a member of the false trinity in 16:13, labeled the “false prophet” (cf. 19:20, 20:10). The timing of its emergence is not clear from the record. But – when it speaks as a dragon on behalf of the first beast, it is distinctly after the rise of that sea beast. Both are identified as savage, brutal and blood-thirsty. The earth beast functions as a facilitator to the sea beast.

 

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth;” (vs 11)

 

“And I beheld” or “I saw” marks this as a new scene within the vision story. This new creature is identified as therion or a ferocious beast, just like the first creature. Since it is later identified as a “false prophet,” its barbarous actions relate to religious matters. That is an alarming concern. It raises a chilling reality that a civil power will wield oppressive force over ecclesiastical issues.

Like the first beast, this beast “ascends” or “rises up.” This is a determined, rise that apparently John witnessed. Interesting is another parallel to Daniel 7. The four beasts there initially ascended out of the sea (7:3). Thus, there is a “sea” application. Could there be an “earth” application? That is introduced later in Daniel’s chapter when it says, “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth” (Daniel 7:17). Daniel 8 with the ram, he-goat and little horn introduces that other end-time motif. That is a unique distinction and suggests a secondary application at the end of time when those kingdoms have key symbolic meanings.

The meaning of the “earth” has been a problem to scholars. The gamut of ideas presents many complex possibilities. There is, however, a wonderful key. The first beast comes out of the sea; the second from the earth. These are “opposites” or inverse messages. It is anticipated that they bring contrasting themes. Since we are told what water and sea represents in prophecy, the earth would depict the opposite.

	Sea	Earth
Rev. 17:15	Peoples, multitudes, nations, tongues	Undeveloped area, void of masses of people, nations and languages
Isa. 57:20-21	Wicked, restless, dirty	Peaceful, without problems or evil (at least initially)

 

The beast is a kingdom or nation that emerges “lamb-like” in an area of the world void of many people and seeks to do good. This beast first represents the historical beginning of a nation that quickly moves right up to the very end. The United States of America fits its origins exquisitely. It began by pilgrims migrating from Europe to escape religious oppression from Catholicism. Its civil structure was based on two principles: Protestant Christianity and the concept of Republicanism.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”[1]

Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799), who was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known and remembered for his “Give me Liberty, or give me Death!” speech, said: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”[2]

 

“and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.” (vs 11)

 

Those two horns represent these two great principles of the government of the United States – Protestantism and Republicanism.

But a paradox suddenly emerges. A religious nation with two lamb-like horns, symbolizing its two key foundational precepts that would lead to its greatness, changes to become satanic! The sea beast had a mouth like a roaring lion, spewing out anti-God words. The earth beast spews out of his mouth utterances like Satan.

How does the dragon speak? The Bible actually records some of his words.

The Garden of Eden, Satan’s challenge over Job and Christ’s temptations in the wilderness provide a key framework of how that master of evil will be emulated at the end of time! (See following section.)

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Learning How the Dragon Speaks

Garden of Eden:

“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:1-5).

 

“Satan represented to the holy pair that they would be gainers by breaking the law of God. Do we not today hear similar reasoning? Many talk of the narrowness of those who obey God's commandments, while they themselves claim to have broader ideas and to enjoy greater liberty. What is this but an echo of the voice from Eden, ‘In the day ye eat thereof’ – transgress the divine requirement – ‘ye shall be as gods’? Satan claimed to have received great good by eating of the forbidden fruit, but he did not let it appear that by transgression he had become an outcast from heaven.” – Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 55.

 

End-Time:

 

“The law of God, through the agency of Satan, is to be made void. In our land of boasted freedom, religious liberty will come to an end.” – Ellen G. White, Evangelism, 236 (1875) (emphasis added). This is the final work of this earth beast.

 

“The only one who promised Adam life in disobedience was the great deceiver. And the declaration of the serpent to Eve in Eden–‘Ye shall not surely die’–was the first sermon ever preached upon the immortality of the soul. Yet this declaration, resting solely upon the authority of Satan, is echoed from the pulpits of Christendom and is received by the majority of mankind as readily as it was received by our first parents. The divine sentence, ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die’ (Ezekiel 18:20), is made to mean: The soul that sinneth, it shall not die, but live eternally. We cannot but wonder at the strange infatuation which renders men so credulous concerning the words of Satan and so unbelieving in regard to the words of God.” – Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 533.

 

“Satan beguiles men now as he beguiled Eve in Eden by flattery, by kindling a desire to obtain forbidden knowledge, by exciting ambition for self-exaltation. It was cherishing these evils that caused his fall, and through them he aims to compass the ruin of men. ‘Ye shall be as gods,’ he declares, ‘knowing good and evil.’ Genesis 3:5. Spiritualism teaches ‘that man is the creature of progression; that it is his destiny from his birth to progress, even to eternity, toward the Godhead.’ And again: ‘Each mind will judge itself and not another.’ ‘The judgment will be right, because it is the judgment of self…. The throne is within you.’ Said a spiritualistic teacher, as the ‘spiritual consciousness’ awoke within him: ‘My fellow men, all were unfallen demigods.’ And another declares: ‘Any just and perfect being is Christ.’ – Ellen G. White, The Great controversy, p. 554.

 

Chiding God Over Job:

 

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face” (Job 1:7-11).

 

“Job is brought before us as a man whom the Lord permitted Satan to afflict. The enemy stripped him of all he possessed; his family ties were broken; his children were taken from him. For a time his body was covered with loathsome sores, and he suffered greatly. His friends tried to make him see that he was responsible, by his sinful course, for all his afflictions. But he denied the charge, declaring, ‘Miserable comforters are ye all.’ By seeking to prove Job guilty before God, and deserving of punishment, his friends brought a grievous test upon him, and placed God in a false light; but Job did not swerve from his loyalty, and God rewarded his faithful servant.” – Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, June 21, 1899.

 

End-Time:

 

 “The great controversy between good and evil will increase in intensity to the very close of time. In all ages the wrath of Satan has been manifested against the church of Christ; and God has bestowed his grace and Spirit upon his people to strengthen them to stand against the power of the evil one. When the apostles of Christ were to bear his gospel to the world and to record it for all future ages, they were especially endowed with the enlightenment of the Spirit. But as the church approaches her final deliverance, Satan is to work with greater power. He comes down ‘having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.’ Rev. 12: 12. He will work ‘with all power and signs and lying wonders.’ 2 Thess. 2:9. For six thousand years that master-mind that once was highest among the angels of God, has been wholly bent to the work of deception and ruin. And all the depths of Satanic skill and subtlety acquired, all the cruelty developed, during these struggles of the ages, will be brought to bear against God's people in the final conflict. And in this time of peril the followers of Christ are to bear to the world the warning of the Lord's second advent; and a people are to be prepared to stand before him at his coming, ‘without spot, and blameless.’ 2 Pet. 3:14. At this time the special endowment of divine grace and power is not less needful to the church than in apostolic days.” – Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, Author’s Preface (emphasis added).

 

“You will be given opportunity to say, ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him’ (Job 13:15). Oh, it is so precious to think that opportunities are afforded us to confess our faith in the face of danger, and amid sorrow, sickness, pain, and death.” – Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, bk 1, p. 117 (emphasis added).

 

Temptation in the Wilderness – One:

 

“And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread” (Luke 4:3).”

 

End-Time:

 

“In the last great conflict of the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers, they will be forbidden to buy or sell. It will finally be decreed that they shall be put to death. See Rev. 13:11-17. But to the obedient is given the promise, ‘He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.’ Isa. 33:16. By this promise the children of God will live. When the earth shall be wasted with famine, they shall be fed. ‘They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.’ Ps. 37:19. To that time of distress the prophet Habakkuk looked forward, and his words express the faith of the church: ‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.’ Hab. 3:17, 18” – Ellen G.  White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 121-122.

 

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:11).

 

Temptation in the Wilderness – Two:

 

“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Matthew 4:5-6).

 

End-Time:

 

“Satan thought to take advantage of Christ's humanity, and urge Him beyond the limits of trust into the sin of presumption. But while manifesting perfect trust in his Father, He refused to place Himself in a position which would necessitate the interposition of his Father to save Him from death. He would not force Providence to his rescue, and thus fail to give man an example of perfect trust and submission.” – Ellen G. White, The Bible Echo, November 15, 1892.

 

“But faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan's counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God's promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.” – Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 126.

 

Temptation in the Wilderness – Three:

 

“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine” (Luke 4:5-7).

 

End-Time:

 

“If man sacrifices righteous principles and truth because he can thus avoid persecution and trial in this life, he may obtain the friendship of the world, but will lose the favor of God. He barters his eternal welfare for trifling considerations. But he that obeys the requirements of Christ, neither looking nor planning for his own convenience, preferring even to sacrifice his temporal life rather than turn from the light of truth will secure the reward of the future immortal life. Jesus has said, ‘He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.’” – Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, March 21, 1878.

 

“As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, ‘Christ has come! Christ has come!’ The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands, and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed his disciples when he was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion.” – Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 624.

 

“But although Satan may work diligently, we need not be discouraged; for the Captain of the Lord's host has said. ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth;’ ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world;’ ‘Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’” – Ellen G. White, The Review and Herald, July 23, 1889.

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