In the news, we have seen a shakeup in our government. We are seeing executive orders, the firings of government officials, people being disappeared, and a trade war among the nations. In a time of rapidly changing global politics and societal shifts, many Christians are looking to bible prophecy for an understanding of what is happening. In this article, I hope you will see that picture Revelation 13 paints is beginning to come into focus.
America in Bible Prophecy
Revelation 13:11, states: "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."
As Seventh-day Adventists, we interpret this beast as a representation of the United States of America. According to verse 12, this Beast will exercise all the power of the first Beast (see Revelation 13:1-10). The first Beast is the Papal Roman Empire. If the United States is to exercise the same power that the Papal Roman Empire did, that would mean that this nation would prohibit freedom of religion and persecute those who disobey the mandates set by the nation. Knowing this fact, we should be able to see that America has not yet begun exercising "all the power of the first beast." This is an indication that we are currently living between verses 11 and 12 in the prophetic timeline.
Speaking as a Dragon
Revelation 13:11 says that the Beast (America) "spake as a dragon." What does it mean for America to speak as a Dragon? In order to understand what the Dragon spoke, we must look at Revelation 12, which reveals the career of Satan, who is symbolized in this chapter as a dragon. Notice what the Dragon said:
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10
Hopefully, you can see that the dragon is "the accuser of our brethren." This reveals that when America begins to speak like a dragon, it will make accusations against innocent people, labeling them as traitors and lawbreakers.
The Image of the Beast
When we read the writings of Ellen White, we must take notice of what she reveals in regard to America's Constitution:
When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. 5T p. 451
Another word for repudiate is reject. In essence, Ellen White is telling us that one day America will reject parts of its constitution. You may be wondering why America would want to reject part of its constitution. The answer can be seen in the events that have been reported in the media.
Recent developments that may indicate movement in this direction include:
- Louisiana's law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom
- The government's mandate known as Project 2025
Revelation 13:14 tells us that America will make an "image to the beast." Ellen White helps us understand the meaning of this image that America makes. Notice what she says:
But 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 first 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. When the early church became corrupted by departing from the simplicity of the gospel, and accepting heathen rites and customs, she lost the Spirit and power of God; and in order to control the consciences of the people she sought the support of the secular power. The result was the papacy, a church that controlled the power of the State, and employed it to further her own ends, especially for the punishment of “heresy.” 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. GC88 p.443
According to what we've just read, we should be able to see that the Image of the Beast is when Church and State are united. However, what we must understand is that whenever Church and State join, the Church often runs the State and persecution soon follows. In order for the United States fo form an Image of the Beast, the Evangelical movements in the United States must control the powers of government.
The Image of the Beast is forming
According to a CNN article, Russel Vought, a co-author of Project 2025, is attempting to create a shadow government to recreate America as a Christian nation. While this, initially, may seem like a good idea, history tells us that we should be very concerned. In order to be a Christian nation, one must determine the beliefs and the brand of Christianity that we are following. What do you think will be the result for Christian groups whose belief system may differ from mainstream Christianity?
Paradigm shift
If you're looking at the political landscape in the United States, you should be able to see that a paradigm shift is taking place. We know both political parties have little tolerance for free speech, however, we are now seeing a change in how that freedom of speech is being handled.
In the news, we've seen a number of developments that reveal to us that, in the near future, not only will free speech be dissuaded, but certain types of speech will be prosecutable. Recent developments in the news reveal the arrest of multiple foreign students for organizing protests and writing op-ed pieces. While this may seem minor to many, we must look past their immigration status and see that immigrants are just the beginning of this ban on freedom of speech. If the government is angry about an op-ed piece that is critical of the United States, what do you think will happen to preachers who preach America is the Beast? What do you think will happen to authors who write that the United States will speak like a dragon?
In recent developments, we have learned the United States has begun deporting alleged gang members who are in the U.S. illegally to a prison in El Salvador. Despite a judge verbally ordering the President to turn the plane around to give these prisoners their due process, Donald Trump disobeyed the order citing a law that essentially declares America is at war and that the gang members are essentially terrorists who've invaded the United States. While this retrofitting of the gang members as terrorists may seem like a brilliant move, we must see past their alleged status and see that if they can be terrorists, what happens when a certain brand of Christianity is seen as terrorists? Notice what Ellen White says is the future for all true believers who keep God's Commandments:
Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government. Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment-keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be given to their words; the worst construction will be put upon their motives. GC88 p. 592
You see, just like gang members are now considered terrorists (and an argument can be made that they do terrorize), we have to see the beginning of a framework that may one day declare those of us who keep God's law are at odds with the laws of the land, and the same treatment given to accused gang members, and immigrants who organize protests and write op-ed pieces may be repurposed upon us.
