Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1891 — AMERICA IN THE BIBLE. [ARTICLE]

AMERICA IN THE BIBLE.

Prophecies Found that Point Ont TThcle Sam’s Domain. Indianapolis News. The marvelous growth of the United States has led many of the profound students 6T prophecy to inquire if this Nation is noticed by the pen of God’s writers. This question was discussed last night at the Seventh Day Adventist church by Elder A. W. Bartlett. His argument was founded on the words of John, Revelation xiii, 11: “And I beheld another beast cbmihg up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.” Three great sjmbols are brought to view in Revelation, viz.: The great red dragon of Chapter xii, the leopard,bodied beast of Chapter xiii, aud the two-horned beast of our text, Tte rbd dragon signifies primarily the Roman empire dominated by paganism; rs is called “the devil'’ (Rev. xii, 9), because pagan Rome was a mighty instrument of -Satan for the -accomplishment of his hellish purposes. The leopardbodied beast is a symbol of the Roman empire when controlled and guided by the papacy. This beast is succeeded by the two-horned beast of the text, which symbolizes the United States of America, the representative of the third great form of religion of the world—Protestantism. That our country is symbolized by this beast is evident from the following facts : (1) As it is called “another beast,” therefore it must be a government separate aud distinct from those symbolized, by tlyj preceding beasts—pagan" ana papal Rome — which in their time ruled the entire ervitized portion of the Eastern hemisphere-. No symbolic government can occupy the territory of another, therefore the government represent-ed-by the two horned beast js necessarily located in the Western hemisphere. And in the New World the United States alone meets the specications of the prophecy. (2) The time of the rise and development of tho two-horned beast is- after the first beast —papal Rome— is slain, politically (Rev. xiii, 10;, which was!" accomplished by the temporary overthrow of its temporal power in 1798 by the French General Berth ier, and permanently in 1870 by the occupation of Rome by Victor Emanuel. Since tho first of these periojds this nation was seen coming up into power. (3) The manner in which the two-horned beast comes up, viz., “out of the-earth,” shovts that it is a symbol of the United States. All the beasts before it came “out of the sea,” \yhi h denotes nations and tongues. Rome arose through political tempests and clash Of armies, like the waves of the sea. But “out of the earth” signifies its rise from a new country unoccupied by civilized nations. Such our- fathers found this continent. Our vast territory has bee u secured by the peaceable means qf.purchase and annexation. Our wars have been defensive and not for conquest. No nation has achieved sUch greatness in like manndr. The phrase “coming up" refers to the .marvelously rapid growth of our Nation. The prophet sees tliis beast coming to maturity while he beholds it. December 22, 1620, the Mayflower landed one hundred pilgrims on the coast of New England. Here thegreat .Protestant nation of-America was born, and.its first baby cry was heard at Plymouth But “what hath God wrought?” The descendants of the Puritans to-day, rule a proud nation of 63,000,000 people, aud the fairest portion of earth, exceeding Rome in her proudest days of conquest and renown. We have sprung in an incredibly short time to the head of the richest nations of the earth.

The character of this Nation 4s symbolized by the words of our text, “Two horns like a lamb,” which represent the United States aS the youngest Nation in prophecy with "tho mildest and best form of eaithly government. Upon the two lambuxe priffeipTes of republicanism and Protestantism —civil and religious liberty—our Nation is founded; they are the secret of its strength and power. The absence of crowns-upon the horns and the appeal to the people as the origin of legal enactments (fourteenth verse) show the republican form of government. But the prophet adds that “he spake as a dragon.” This indicates a decided change in the character of the government. The dragon was an enemy of evil and religious liberty and a relentless persecutor of the people of God. Does the prevailing political corruption in this Natipn tend toward the loss of our pivil rights? Will the decided tendency toward legislation on Sunday observance lead to the subversion of rights of conscience? * ‘-With thrilling interest,” the speaker continued, “we learn thatthe United Stateswill be in existence at the second coming of Christ, for the two-horned beast is the last symbolic government before the end of the age. Gob has chosen this country as the Stage upon which shall be enacted the principal events connected with His work and people in the last days. In this land z the loud cry of the first angel’s message, of (Rev. xiv, 6,7,) ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come,' awakens His people everywhere to prepare for Christ’s coming. Here the loud cry of the third angel's message goes forth that develops the last generation of Christians that ‘keep the meats of God and the faith of Jesusf [(Rev. xvj, 12,) ‘Here, also, the dragon is wroth with this remnant, and 'makes war against them.’ (Rev. xii, 17.) In the language of Christ we

would say, ‘So likewise ye, when y« shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.’ ” Elder Bartlett will continue his sermons on the prophecies next Sunday night.