A Striking Contradiction
But the beast with lamblike horns “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.... Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived” (Revelation 13:11, 12, 14).LF 182.3
The lamblike horns and dragon voice point to a contradiction. The prediction that it will speak “like a dragon” and exercise “all the authority of the first beast” foretells that it will develop a spirit of intolerance and persecution like those of the dragon and the leopardlike beast. And the statement that the beast with two horns “causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast” indicates that the authority of this nation will enforce giving allegiance to the papacy.LF 182.4
Such action would be against the basic principles of its free institutions, against the solemn statements of the Declaration of Independence, and against the Constitution. 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 or public trust under the United States.” Yet the symbol points to flagrant violation of these safeguards to liberty. The beast with lamblike horns—professing to be pure, gentle, and harmless—speaks like a dragon.LF 182.5
“Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast.” Here the prophecy presents a form of government in which the legislative power rests with the people, a most striking evidence that the United States is the nation indicated here.LF 183.1
But what is the “image to the beast”? How is it to be formed?LF 183.2
When the early church became corrupted, she set out to get the support of secular power. The result: the papacy, a church that controlled the state, especially for the punishment of “heresy.” In order for the United States to form an “image to the beast,” the religious power must so control the civil government that the church will use the state to accomplish her own ends.LF 183.3
Protestant churches that have followed in the steps of Rome have shown a similar desire to restrict freedom of conscience. An example is the Church of England's long-running persecution of dissenters. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, nonconformist pastors and people faced fines, imprisonment, torture, and martyrdom.LF 183.4
Apostasy led the early church to seek the help of civil government, and this prepared the way for the papacy—the beast. Said Paul: “The falling away comes ..., and the man of sin is revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).LF 183.5
The Bible declares: “In the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).LF 183.6
All who do “not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” will accept “strong delusion, that they should believe the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11). When this happens, the same results will follow as in the first centuries.LF 183.7
Many think that the wide diversity of belief among Protestant churches is proof that no forced uniformity can ever happen. But for years in Protestant churches there has been a growing desire to unite. To bring about such union, they must avoid discussing subjects on which they do not all agree. In the effort to have complete uniformity, it will be only a step to resort to force.LF 183.8
When the leading churches of the United States unite on the points of doctrine that they hold in common and influence the state to enforce their decrees and to support their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and civil penalties on dissenters will inevitably follow.LF 183.9