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(c) Copyright 2000 Research Applications International.
 
WATC
HERALD OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE.
VOL.
I“ Watchman, What of fhe fright ?” “The Morning Cometh.‘-lsaioh xxi. 12.PITTSBURGH, PA., JANUARY, 1580
DIALOGUE
h-t1 7
REV.
xiii.B. I am here again, Bro. A., anxious as ever to enjoywhatever light may be due the church; I know that
YOU
be-lieve the word of God to be a lamp, whose oil is the spirit,which sheds its light upon the path of the just as fast as thelight is due, in order that at each step we may not be indarkness.Have you seen anything fresh or new lately?A. God’s word is “new every morning and fresh everyevening.”In this respect it differs from all other books and,undoubtedly it is a fountain of living waters (truths) fromtlre fact that it contains special dispensational truths, as wellas general truth. Thus it is a great storehouse from whichthe Lord’s servants are to bring forth “things new and old,”that the household of faith may have “meat in due season.”I seem to see in a clearer light than ever before, the presentcondition of the nominal church and its future. We talk-ed some of this subject at a previous interview, when weronsnlered the test--“Babylon is fallen.”The subject ingeneral nnd the Bible teaching concerning it, seems daily toopen up more clearly. I think, too, that it is-the meat due
llC1 L’.
Many saints in “Bahyh” are ignorant of the fact,and therefore do not obey the call-“Come out from hermy l~coplc, so tbnt you may bare no fellowship with hersins end that you rccelve not of her plagues.”Would thissnblect be agreeable to you this evening?B. It would, and profitable too I hope. I was much in-terested in our last conversation on The Antichrist and itspicture in Rev. xii.A. Then we will consider the “two-horned beast” of thenext chapter now.topic.It seems to follow connectedly, our lastB. Suppose you use the Emphatic Diaglott; it is somuch clearer.lations.Then I can have the advantage of both trans-A. The first ten verses of this cbnptcr describe the Papal-Roman dominion.mixture,It is the Leopard; its spots showingor churrb and empire combined. It reccivcs itspower &c., from the “Dragon” (Pagan Rome.) J>et me hereexplain that in symbol, “Heavens,” signify the bigber or rulingpowers,“Earth represents the people obedient to those rulingpowers. When the Dragon gave its place to Papacy, it(Papacy) became “the heacens” and those who were obedientto it (the church) were “the earth.” “The sea” representsthe general masses of the world, without religious restraints.The “Leopard” arose from the sea-from among the massesof the people-received its power and dominion, etc.“Andthe whole earth wondered after the beast.”And they didhomage to the Dragon (Paganism) because he gave the auth-ority to the Beast. And they worshiped the Beast saying:Who is like to the Beast?”Thus we see that the peoplehonored both the empire and the ecclesiastical or church pow-er, finally concluding that the Beast (ecclesiastical power)was the stronger. and saying-“Who is able to make war (tocontend) with the Beast?”swelling words”The “blasphemies and the greatterview.of this power, we talked of at our last in-Its time for speaking is not limited; it still speaks,but not so its time for acting. It had “power to act for@and two months.”This is the same period referred to inchap. 12 as “twelve hundred and sixty deys,” and tbrre anda half times (31,& years) extending from A. D. 538 to1798, when its “power to act”or put to death seems to baveceased.
THE TWO-HORNED BEAST
vs. 11 “And I saw another wild beast, ascending fromthe earth.” If the previous beast was an ecclesiastical pow-er, this beast called another would also be an ecclesiastical,or church power. As the first beast had ten horns, or pow-ers which gave to it their support, strength and protection,so this beast has “two horns.”The first beast received adeadly wound from the sword. (Vs. 14.)The sword isthe word of God and Papacy received such a wound during theReformation. The preaching of the word of God by Luther,Zwingli and others, showing it to be the “mystery of iniqui-ty,”much“The Man of Sin,” “The Antichrist,” kc., took awayof its power and almost took its life.B. I see then that the second beast with two horns, youregard as another ecclesiastical power arising since the Refor-mation.Can it be possible that it refers to or symbolizesProtestantism?A. I think it does. As Papacy became a beast bv theunion of church and empire, so with Protestantism. It is notcalled a beast until it uuite~ ~itb the empires reprcsentc<lby the llco ILorns-two powers. ICnglnnd and Germany.SO-tice that this beast does not come nut of the Sea (the irrelrg-ious masses) but from tbc “earth” (the people who badbeen obedient to Papacy). It lins not tlie fierce, aggressivecharacter of the “Leol~ard.” but “two horns like a lamb.”It used its horns only as a mc:~ns of defence and protec-tion.B. Tlre nevt stat,emcnt tl’at it “spnke as a dragon” doe;not seem to fit Piotestantism.It would seem to imply thatthe second beast taught tbc s:lrric things as the dragon. 1. e.Paganism, &r.A. By no means, the two bconts src brink contrnstetl. \vchave already been to!d wbnt \\CIP the claims of the I.eopardor Papal ecclrsi:lqi irism, ho\\- it qpnke .grcnt, swelling Ncnrdsand blasphemic<. bon- it clnimctl the rr:bt to ‘*rnlc all nn-tions n-itb a ret1 of iron” I,\ virtue of it3 otlirr claim tl,nt rtwas “the kinptlom of God.”Protestantism. thougb it a*-soriatrd itqelf wit11 earthly empire and became a beast. made
110 s11rh boast.
It spnke no sue11 s\\-elling words and made nosncli pictcrtioiis cl.iims. It dtws not spc.~k 2s flfc dragon.but as a dragon.Its claims are the same as nny civil 01drnpnn ponn.n 0 1 SWI thought that its speaking as a dragonwould indicate that it w:i4 wnrse than Papacy; but I see thatit really marks it as hein!: better and is the clistingni;l~ln~feature brtmeen it and “The Man of Sin.” It does seemthat the Spirit clotbed the mnttcr in such
sv~t~lwl~ as WOU~,I
be difficult or impossib!c to understand until it should be-come meat due to the church.A. Notice furtbrr that nltbouch the two-llnrned he,litclaimed Zest, its greater bumilitv did not operate against it.for “AU the az~fhol-it!/ of tbc first beast I’e executes in hi.presence.”B. That is the Prntcstnnt Beast [the state churches (>fEngland ant1 Germany.1 was able to exert as much intl;icnccand power a< l’nl,:1cy could bv its greater claims.
nut
nl1:2 t
is meant bv
“III
Iii< pi rsrnce?”A. This is tbrnwn in to show us tbnt the rise of tilesecond did not destroy the first one.ist cotempnrnneoiisly.They continue to cl-“,4nd be mnkcs 111~ cc,?11
and
fbnse who dwell in it toworship tbr first beast whose mortal
wnmd
was bealcd.”
c331
 
ZION’S WATCH TOWER
PxTTsBuaGH,
PA.Papacy’s wound began to heal from the time the Reformatio?tB. I notice that the Sinaitic MN. adds the word also inCZ~U,
h
muted to worldly empires, for how could the Reform-this verse-“That they also should make an image.“--\;\‘oulde13 nny longer use the Sword of the Spirit against Papacy not this seem to indccate that Protestantism,‘1s a church-stnte organization when they themselves werein this beast, is an image of the first beast also?as-representedthe same?And not onlv did this cause them to cease to
wound
A. Yes, the thought is there even without the word also,and injure Papacy, but when they justified their
OWII
churchsince they are both beasts, but also does add to the force.and empire organization and demanded for it the respect andWell, they took the advice of example and did organize suchreverence of the people, they virtually caused all, both papistsan image.In London, Aug. 19th, 1846, there assembledand protestants to worship, respect and honor the Papalrepresentatives of all the leading protestant denominationsChurch. To such an extent is this true, that to-day theof Europe and America, who there organized under the name-Pnpal Church is recognized among christians as olte of the“Evangelical Alliance.”That was a church organiaatzonchurches of Christ, instead of in its true character as thein many respects similar in form (“an image”) to Papacy.“Antichriqt.” that the Lord recognizes as “The AbominationIts design is to increase the power and authority of Protest-antism, just as the formation of the Leopard beast was theof the Eai th.”The utterance-of early reformers againstthis church. if made to&v. would be denounced by bothresult of a desire to increase the power and authority ofChristians and the world.“’Papacy.-B.- Surely you do not mean to say that the “Evangelicalvs. 13. “And he does great signs so that fire he makesAlliance.” which seeminalv has been for the cementing of allto come down from hea\cn to the earth in the presence ofmen.” Remember that both beasts are stow id “heaven,”protestant Christians in‘ib one organization is an evil thing.A. The union of believers is one of the things for whichor
in
author2ty.The second beast displays its power over we long and pray, but it is brought about, not bv the organi-“the earth,”or those who nre under its authority by occa-sronallv sendine down ~II-c lsvmbol of iudgment and punish-zation ‘bf so&et&, but by the H’;ly Spirit:It is a uni& ofments]” upon them-deGl,rring” certam jbclgments and punish-hearts bound together bv the golden chord of truth: nota union of churgh societies bouid by creeds.ments upon those who oppose it-heretics.Such fire wassent down upon the Dissenters-Baptists, Puritans and others.If the Evangelical Alliance were the coming together asChristians, saying-We realize that there is “One Lord, onevs. 14.“And he deceives those who dwell on the earthbv the sipns which it was given him to do in the presencefaith, one. baptism,”and that all truth is in harmony; andoi the blast.”Those who dwell on the earth (not “thetherefore. as we who profess to be God’s children differ wide-earth” itself-i. e.. the neonle who acknowledge and obey thesely on various subjects and our various creeds in many par-two beasts) probably refer’s to Independent Christians hot al-ticulars contradict each other. we desire to lav aside all writ-ten creeds and we unite in this manner as rh;istians, with nolretl to n-orldlv organizations. These were deceived by therule nor creed but the Bible. We will henceforth strivenretcntious claims of divine right and appointment, etc.A They claim as the Papal church did *and does .that theyto be taught of God and seek to come to harmony in the un-are the onlv church of Christ and that none but their mims-derstanding of His Word.ters and b&hops have right to preach since they and theI sav it this were the obiect. I could reioice at such anorganization. But it is not”; no, each denomination standsRoman Catholic clergy alone are rightly “ordained of Qod.”They clarm that the right to ordain (set apart and installas firmly as ever by its creed.And this Alliance is designedonly as a protection to those creeds. The Alliance has ain office) was originally possessed only by the Apostles, whocreed of nine articles, and none can be considered as withthrough“laying on of hands,”conferred the gifts of theSpirit.This last 1%~knob\ is true. but they also claim thatin the pale of Orthodoxy! except by subscribing to this creed.those so ordained, could, in ordaining others, confer the sameIt is, I repeat, an orgamzation in form and purpose, similarspiritual gifts a& pou;ers.This was probably first promul-to Papacy and is here properly termed the “Image of theBeast.”gated to give power and seeming authority to the clergy,Vs. 15.and to create between them and the balance of the church,“And it was given him to give breath to theimage of the beast, that the image of the beast should bothagulf of awe so wide that few would dare leap over.Thuspriest-craft obtained a mighty hold upon the minds of the peo-speak, and cause that as many -as would not worship theIt is the carrying out of this same principle that sane-image of the beast, should be killed.“-That is, the Protest-ple.tions the teaching. that none ore oualified to undcrstwd theant beast gave vital power and authority to the image (TheBible nright ezc&t those consecrked ‘by the impositaon ofunited sects-Evangelical Alliance). It has done this byjoining with them in the organizat,ion.The church of Eng-bolt/ orders by the Apostol!c succession.This claim of bothheists we deny, and assert that the laging on of hands by allland &cl the church of Geymany were both represented atseveral of the late meetings of the Alliance.This is con-the Bishops and Popes could not add to the spiritual gifts traxg to the spirit of their creeds, as all know who are con-of nnr. saint or sinner.\\:e challenge both churches to lno-duce L single cnse in ahich “the gifts of the Spirit” (as the?:versant with them.The Enalish and German churches eachclaim,are explained in 1 Cor.) ever followed the ordination ofas the Papal has altyays done, that theirs is THE
CHT!RCIT
toundecl by the Apostles and that, their ministers andtheir ministers.It was in this ~vay that the second beast deceived or ledbishops have the special unction for teaching by the “layingon of hands,” or what is known as ordination and Apostolicinto error (bondage) the various independent companies 01succession.them (“those who dwell onThese claim that the Papacy was an apostacyprotestant Christians, tellingfrom their church, and that the various other denominationsthe earth”) to make nn image to the (first) beast, who hasare schisms from their church and heretical, in that they holdthe wound of the sword and lives.”c!octrines differing from theirs.B. We untlcrstand then that these two churches, thechurch of England and the church of Germany, by their claimsThey have departed from the renl ground of their creednnd orgnniz:rtions similar to Papacy, said to smaller com-~hcn they take part with other denominations in forming. andponies of Independent Protestant -Christians by example etc. :recognizing (giving life to) “the image.”And even the PaDal Chwch went so far as to acknowledgeYou will nlio find it necessary to have an ecclesiastical fenceto separate your clerm from the common people of the church;the Image, for during the session (in Europe) two mont&since, she sent leer
GREETINGS
to the “Evangelical Alliance.”that their utterances,by seeming authority may have the The recognition bv these beasts gives force and Dower to thegreater neiglrt, even as tltc zcol-tl of God with the people-thus preventing thra exercise of individual thought and study.image, so” that it ‘can command <he reverence of all; and woebe to the one who dares refuse to worship “Orthodoxv.” HeA. Yes. thev demonstrated to them that thev reuuired anorganized~$ovcr;llnc,nt kc.,of the clergy over the”common peo-is symbolically “ki&d”-cut off, as a herktic, and is no long-er recognized as a Christian.ple like to Z-‘oprtc~/ in form, in fact an “Zmage of that beast.”Vs. 16.“And he causes all, the little and great, and theThis each deirominnt:on. Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist andlegion besides, did, as they gained power? i. e.:. While theyrich and the poor, and the freemen and the bondmen, thatthev should give themselves a mark on the right hand or indenounced priest-craft ant1 ndvocatcd individual study of thetheir forehead;” i. e.,the Image causes all whcb would be itsBible, yet they claimed the authority of their clergy to in-followers and worshipers to commit themselves either by aterpret the scriptures.And 11 ile they freely placed t,hepublic profession (mark in forehead), or by giving able sup-Blhlc in the handi of the people, they handed them along withport with their might, power and means (mark in right hand).it, the catrchi-m and creed of the church.They concede theA mark is a seal or sign of allegiance.rieht of thp intliridual to be a member of the church and toB. How do the various denominational churches con-
5
study the word if he will agree to believe neither more norstituting the Image follow Papacy?less than the clergy who formed the creed.Strange liberty!A. In many ways.For instanre :Papacy establish-Thus each denomination did make an image; but there is aed the clerical hierarchy, who lord it over God’s heritage in-sense in which they have all united to make one grand image,stead of serving their brethren as Jesus explained-“One isthe one referred to in t,his fourteenth verse.rour Ifaster and all ye are brethren,” and as Paul said--“We
C641
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