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    CHAPTER XII. - THE DRAGON, THE BEAST, AND THE FALSE PROPHET

    We have seen that the dragon represents paganism, which is the form of religion assumed in the first apostasy from God in the world.WGI 148.1

    When the evils engendered and fostered by that false religion had brought the world to the brink of ruin, then God sent His Son Jesus into the world; and by Him the true religion, direct from God, was again in its purity given to the world.WGI 148.2

    But again there was apostasy. There was apostasy from this true religion from God revealed in Christ. This second apostasy developed the papacy. And when the papacy had whelped the world in darkness, and had brought it again to the brink of ruin; then, in the principles and preaching of the Reformation and true Protestantism, God again made manifest IIis own true and pure religion.WGI 148.3

    And now there is apostasy again, from this true religion of the Reformation and Protestantism.WGI 148.4

    The firsts great apostasy was from the worship of the one true God, to the worship of many false gods—to mere naturalism in religion: and this is paganism, or “the dragon.”WGI 149.1

    The second great apostasy was from Christianity to paganism: but still retaining the name and forms of Christianity: and this is the papacy, or “the beast.”WGI 149.2

    The third great apostasy is from Christianity as revived in the principles of the Reformation and Protestantism, to papal principles and practices: but still retaining the name and forms of Protestantism: and this is the image of the papacy, or “the false prophet.”WGI 149.3

    It is of importance to note the specific things in which all three of these apostasies are at one.—That is, The Union of Religion and the State.WGI 149.4

    The religion of God is ever totally separate from any and all communication with the State. It belongs distinctly and exclusively to another realm than any to which any state can possibly belong. But God was forsaken. The true religion was abandoned; and paganism resulted. And with Nimrod, the founder of the first state, kingdom and empire, in the world, paganism became essentially identified with the state, and so remained until in that connection it was supplanted by the papacy.WGI 149.5

    When Christ came and the divine religion was again manifested to the world, it was plainly and specifically separated from any and all connection with the state. But again there was apostasy; and through Federation and the dark intrigue of Constantine and the bishops, this second false religion became essentially identified with the State.WGI 150.1

    In the principles and preaching of the Reformation and Protestantism, the divine religion was revived and again made known to all the world. In this revival of the true religion, true to its nature it was again plainly and specifically separated from all connection with, or any dependence upon, the State or civil power. But again there has come apostasy; and each particular phase of Protestantism, as it has been developed, has in its turn united with the State and has become a State religion instead of remaining the divine religion. And not through Federation again, all the remaining phases of professed Protestantism go about to crowd themselves in one body upon the State, to become identical with it and to be the dominating power in it, in the express image of the papacy.WGI 150.2

    Now it must be borne in mind that the state is essentially of force. Whatsoever religion therefore that ever enters into any connection with the State has already in principle, and by that connection becomes in practise, a religion of force.WGI 150.3

    The two essential elements that enter into the idea of the State are laws, and force. Any religion therefore, that ever enters into any connection or association with the state, has already become essentially a religion only of laws and force. And just as soon as from any religion there has been lost any shade of entire dependence on divine faith, divine love, and the divine Spirit, that very day that religion becomes only a religion of works, of laws, and of force: and is ready just then to seek connection with the state which is, and by which that religion becomes possessed of, the very crystallization of laws and force.WGI 151.1

    Dr. Phillip Schaff has remarked that “civil power has proved a Satanic gift to the church.” It is a Satanic gift to any religion. Yet it is certain that in this Satanic thing, paganism, papacy, and professed and federated Protestantism are all three absolutely at one.WGI 151.2

    Now these three great apostasies, holding in common these vital elements, it will be perfectly logical, and the most natural, thing, that they should form a three-fold coalition to the establishment of a world religion. Especially can this be expected just now when the ambition for a world-religion seems to permeate the very air. In bringing this about, there will necessarily be some concessions on the part of each; but with the vital points already held in common the necessary accommodations can he worked out as the crises may demand.WGI 151.3

    And for all this the way is already paved. We have already mentioned the federation of professed Protestantism for the control of legislation and the State in the special interests of Protestantism. But it must not be forgotten that for several years already, there has been formed and in quiet operation a “Federation of Catholic Societies” for the same practical purposes, but in the special interests of Catholicism.WGI 152.1

    Now, with these two powerful federations, in the same territory, working in many points for the same things, actually working together in some things, each often bidding for the favor of the other, but each always intently looking, and steadily working, for its own self-advancement—in view of all this can anybody think for a moment that there will not come actual approaches, accommodations, concessions, and final coalition?WGI 152.2

    This is certain to come, as between the papacy and this professed Protestantism that occupies so largely papal grounds. How stands the case as relates to the remaining distinct and separate paganism, in the Far East under the tutelage and leadership of Japan?WGI 152.3

    Here also, coalition with the others is fairly in sight. By Japan’s wonderful progress of late, and especially by her signal victories in war by land and sea, she has gained such favor in the eyes of the so-called Christian powers that they readily agree that she should be also “Christian.”WGI 153.1

    And Japan thinks just this herself. In the midst of their late war a book was issued in behalf of Japan by a Japanese scholar, and printed in English, presenting Japan’s side of the case, and bidding for the favor of the world. And in this book, Chapter V, under the heading of “Japan’s Burning Need,” this thought is presented as follows:—WGI 153.2

    “Can Japan fulfil this her heaven-appointed mission, apart from that Christianity which has done so much to make Europe and America what they are? It is impossible to think that there is no need for us Japanese as a people to join the other nations in celebrating with joy the coming and the work of Jesus Christ. Just as Japan has appropriated the material side of western civilization and grown strong thereby, just so she has need of assimilating the spiritual elements of that civilization to give character to her people. In other words, it is only by becoming Christian that she can fulfil her heaven-appointed mission.”WGI 153.3

    From this the writer proceeds to enlarge upon the following three propositions:—WGI 154.1

    “1. Japan needs Christianity in order to make a right use of her political and educational institutions.”WGI 154.2

    “2. Japan needs Christianity in order to her industrial and commercial development.”WGI 154.3

    “3. Japan needs Christianity in order to successful colonization.”WGI 154.4

    It is worthy of note that there is no expression of any need of Christianity in order to salvation. Yet anybody, whether in an individual or a national capacity, who ever wants Christianity for anything else than salvation only, will never get Christianity in truth. whoever gets Christianity for salvation only will get also the best of everything else; but whoever seeks Christianity for the best of everything else will not get Christianity.WGI 154.5

    And near the close of the Chapter there is the following remarkable observation:—WGI 154.6

    Japan has already for the sake of the peace of the Far East formed an alliance with Great Britain; for the promotion of commerce of Manchuria and Korea she has joined hands with America.WGI 154.7

    “This is surely a wise policy and a great diplomatic success. But to the complete fulfilment of her whole heaven-assigned mission, she must form an alliance with the Kingdom of God and be brought into sympathetic touch with Jesus Christ.”—“The Mission of Japan, and the Russo-Japanese War,’ pages 55-62.WGI 154.8

    From this it is perfectly plain that Japan’s proposed alliance with Christianity and the Kingdom of God, is of a character entirely national and political: exactly as was that of Russia, as was that of the Roman Empire which made the papacy, and as is that of federated Protestantism which develops the image of the papacy.WGI 155.1

    A distinct echo of this voice from Japan—even though unintentional—was given in President Roosevelt’s letter to the Conference on Federation of Protestantism in New York City last November. That letter runs as follows, italics mine:—WGI 155.2

    “MY DEAR DR. ROBERTS:—I have your letter of the 7th. Indeed, I remember very well the call of your delegation upon me and out talk upon the proposed meeting of the Inter-church Conference on Federation.WGI 155.3

    “I have the very highest sympathy with the movement; for instance, I feel that indirectly in addition to the great good it will do here it is perfectly possible that the movement may have a very considerable effect in the Christianizing of Japan, which I feel to be retarded by the divisions among ourselves and by the failure to recognize the fact that the Christian Church in Japan must of course assume essentially a JAPANESE NATIONAL FORM.WGI 155.4

    “So you see, I have a very real interest in what you are doing to attend the meeting, as you request, but I regret to say that it is out of the question for me to do so. I am genuinely sorry to have to write you thus. Sincerely yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT.”WGI 156.1

    This letter proposes for Japan exactly the order of “Christianity” to which Japan is aspiring—a national, political “Christianity,” after the order of that of the papacy and of federated Protestantism.WGI 156.2

    And now in the summer of 1906 Lloyd’s Weekly has published from Japan the following statement, which in its mighty significance is startling—italics mine:—WGI 156.3

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