"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon" (Revelation 13:11).

"The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus represented."–The Great Controversy, p. 442.

Suggested Readings: The Great Controversy, pp. 439—450.
The Signs of the Times, Nov. 1, 1899.

Sunday September 2

1. THE SECOND BEAST

a. Unlike the first beast which was coming up out of the sea, from where is the second beast coming and what does this mean? Revelation 13:11 (first part).

"The beast with lamblike horns was seen ‘coming up out of the earth.’ Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the nation thus represented must arise in territory previously unoccupied and grow up gradually and peacefully. It could not, then, arise among the crowded and struggling nationalities of the Old World–that turbulent sea of ‘peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.’ It must be sought in the Western Continent."–The Great Controversy, p. 440.

b. What do the two horns of this beast represent? Revelation 13:11 (second part).

"The ‘two horns like a lamb’ well represent the character of the United States Government, as expressed in its two fundamental principles, Republicanism and Protestantism."–The Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899.

"‘And he had two horns like a lamb.’ The lamblike horns indicate youth, innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United States."–The Great Controversy, p. 441.

Monday September 3

2. SPEAKING AS A DRAGON

a. Despite the fact that the second beast shows innocence (like a lamb), what will this beast do? Revelation 13:11 (last part), 12.

"When the papacy, robbed of its strength, was forced to desist from persecution, John beheld a new power coming up to echo the dragon’s voice, and carry forward the same cruel and blasphemous work. This power, the last that is to wage war against the church and the law of God, was symbolized by a beast with lamblike horns. . . . Those who first found an asylum on the shores of America rejoiced that they had reached a country free from the arrogant claims of popery and the tyranny of kingly rule. They determined to establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty.

"But the stern tracing of the prophetic pencil reveals a change in this peaceful scene. The beast with lamblike horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and ‘exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.’"–The Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899.

b. When will the lamblike beast speak as a dragon, and what does this mean to God’s people? 2 Timothy 3:12; Matthew 24:9.

"The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus represented. The ‘speaking’ of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities. By such action it will give the lie to those liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of its policy. The prediction that it will speak ‘as a dragon’ and exercise ‘all the power of the first beast’ plainly foretells a development of the spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the nations represented by the dragon and the leopardlike beast. And the statement that the beast with two horns ‘causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast’ indicates that the authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to the papacy."–The Great Controversy, p. 442.

Tuesday September 4

3. MIRACLE WORKING POWER

a. What will the lamblike beast do in the sight of men? Revelation 13:13, 14 (first part). How has Jesus warned us that this would happen in the last days? Matthew 24:24.

"Paul testifies that before the second advent of Christ there will be similar manifestations of satanic power. The coming of the Lord is to be preceded by ‘the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness’ (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10). And the apostle John, describing the miracle-working power that will be manifested in the last days, declares: ‘He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do’ (Revelation 13:13, 14). No mere impostures are here foretold. Men are deceived by the miracles which Satan’s agents have power to do, not which they pretend to do." –The Great Controversy, p. 553.

"We are coming right upon the time when Satan is to work with all manner of bewitching influences, and those who are charmed with them now, or give them the least countenance now, will be all ready to be swept right in to act a part with the devil then." –Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 51.

b. How can we distinguish between true and false miracles? Matthew 7:15—23.

"These may profess to be followers of Christ, but they have lost sight of their Leader. They may say, ‘Lord, Lord’; they may point to the sick who are healed through them, and to other marvelous works, and claim that they have more of the Spirit and power of God than is manifested by those who keep His law. But their works are done under the supervision of the enemy of righteousness, whose aim it is to deceive souls, and are designed to lead away from obedience, truth, and duty. In the near future there will be still more marked manifestations of this miracle-working power; for it is said of him, ‘And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.’"–The Signs of the Times, February 26, 1885.

Wednesday September 5

4. THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST

a. What is the image to the beast and when will it receive life? Revelation 13:14 (last part), 15 (first part).

"What is the ‘image to the beast’? and how is it to be formed? The image is made by the two-horned beast, and is an image to the beast. It is also called an image of the beast. Then to learn what the image is like and how it is to be formed we must study the characteristics of the beast itself–the papacy. . . .

"In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends."–The Great Controversy, p. 443. [Author’s italics.]

"The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided."–Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 81.

b. In contrast with the demand of the beast, what warning is given to the inhabitants of the earth? Revelation 13:15 (last part); 14:9, 10.

"The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals is contained in the third angel’s message. That must be a terrible sin which calls down the wrath of God unmingled with mercy. Men are not to be left in darkness concerning this important matter; the warning against this sin is to be given to the world before the visitation of God’s judgments, that all may know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them."–The Great Controversy, pp. 449, 450.

"As the ministration of Jesus closed in the holy place, and He passed into the holiest, and stood before the ark containing the law of God, He sent another mighty angel with a third message to the world. A parchment was placed in the angel’s hand, and as he descended to the earth in power and majesty, he proclaimed a fearful warning, with the most terrible threatening ever borne to man. This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them."–Early Writings, p. 254.

Thursday September 6

5. THE FALSE SABBATH

a. What will be demanded from those who keep the commandments of God? What is the mark of the beast? Revelation 13:16, 17.

"The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of creation. . . . The mark of the beast is the opposite of this–the observance of the first day of the week. This mark distinguishes those who acknowledge the supremacy of the papal authority from those who acknowledge the authority of God."–Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 117.

"The change of the Sabbath is the sign or mark of the authority of the Romish church. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false sabbath in the place of the true, are thereby paying homage to that power by which alone it is commanded."–Evangelism, p. 234.

b. In view of the terrible ordeal that awaits the people of God, what should be our attitude today? Matthew 24:12, 13.

"Some of us have had time to get the truth and to advance step by step, and every step we have taken has given us strength to take the next. But now time is almost finished, and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months. They will also have much to unlearn and much to learn again. Those who would not receive the mark of the beast and his image when the decree goes forth, must have decision now to say, Nay, we will not regard the institution of the beast."–Early Writings, p. 67. [Author’s italics.]

Friday September 7

1. Describe the origin and appearance of the second beast.
2. By what means can a nation begin to speak as a dragon?
3. How can we test whether miracles are of God or of Satan?
4. By what means will the image of the beast be enforced?
5. Why is the Sabbath/Sunday issue so important to us?

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