The Beast With Lamblike Horns

The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the beast with lamblike horns will cause “the earth and those who dwell in it” to worship the papacy—symbolized by the beast “like a leopard.” The beast with two horns will also tell “those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast.” Furthermore, it will command all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave,” to receive the mark of the beast. (Revelation 13:11-16.) The United States is the power that the beast with lamblike horns represents. This prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States enforces Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgment of her supremacy.LF 235.3

“I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3). The deadly wound points to the downfall of the papacy in 1798. After this, says the prophet, “his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” Paul states that the “man of sin” will carry on his work of deception to the very end of time (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8). And “all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life” (Revelation 13:8). In both the Old and the New World, the papacy will receive worship in the honor paid to Sunday.LF 235.4

Since the middle of the nineteenth century, students of prophecy have presented this message of Revelation 13 to the world. Now we see events rapidly moving toward the fulfillment of the prediction. Protestant teachers make the same claim of divine authority for Sunday keeping with the same lack of Bible evidence as do Catholic leaders. The assertion that God sends His judgments on people for violating the Sunday-sabbath will be repeated; already it is beginning to be heard.LF 235.5

The Roman Church is amazingly shrewd. She can read what is happening and what will come—that Protestant churches are recognizing her superiority by accepting the false Sabbath, and that they are preparing to enforce it in the same way that she herself did in ages past. It is not hard to guess how quickly she will come to the help of Protestants in this work.LF 235.6

The Roman Catholic Church forms one vast organization under the control of the papal see. Its millions of members in every country are bound in loyalty to the pope, whatever their nationality or their government. Though they may take the oath pledging loyalty to the state, yet behind this lies the vow of obedience to Rome.LF 235.7

History tells of her sly and persistent efforts to insert herself into the affairs of nations, and having gained a foothold, to advance her own aims, even if it means the ruin of princes and people.^{6See, for example, John Dowling, The History of Romanism, book 5, chapter 6, section 55; and John L. von Mosheim, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, book 3, century 11, part 2, chapter 2, section 9, note 17.}LF 236.1

Rome boasts that she never changes. Protestants do not understand what they are doing when they propose to accept Rome's help in the work of exalting Sunday. While they are focused on their purpose, Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Once the principle is established that the church may control the power of the state, that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws—in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience—Rome's triumph is assured.LF 236.2

The Protestant world will learn what Rome's intentions are only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing in power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in people's hearts. She is strengthening her forces to gain the advantage when the time comes to strike. All that she wants is favorable ground, which she is already receiving. Soon, whoever believes and obeys the Word of God will face censure and persecution.LF 236.3