The Two Horned Beast

Revelation 13:11 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.

Introduction

“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.” ¹

“‘And he had two horns like a lamb.’ The lamblike horns indicate youth, innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United States when presented to the prophet as ‘coming up’ in 1798.” ²

It is stated that the two lamblike horns represent Republicanism and Protestantism, fundamental principles of the United States Government. It is apparent that these two principles would appear in the United States Government by the year 1798. This article examines how and when these two principles did appear in the United States Government.

Republicanism

In prophecy a beast is symbolic of an earthly government. In Revelation 13 there are two beasts. The first beast described in Revelation 13:1-10 is the government of Papal Rome and with her the governments of Christendom that did her bidding. The second beast described in Revelation 13:11-18 is another earthly government which we aim to identify.
To understand when this second beast should appear, we must date the verse previous to its appearance. “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword” (Revelation 13:10). This verse was fulfilled when the Pope was led into captivity by the French Army in 1798. John now beholds another beast coming up out the earth. For the specifications of prophecy to be fulfilled another earthly government must come into existence by 1798.

Now notice the second beast of Revelation 13 comes up out of the earth. Compare this with the beasts in Daniel: “Behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another” (Daniel 7:2,3). The beasts of Daniel arose to power through wars of conquest, represented as winds striving upon a turbulent sea of peoples. However, the second beast of Revelation 13 arises in a different manner. It grows up out of the earth peacefully and gradually, without wars of conquest. It grows up in a region of few peoples, not a sea of peoples. Therefore it could not arise in the crowded struggling peoples of the Old World. It must arise in a sparsely populated region such as the New World, the Americas. There it could arise peacefully and gradually through colonisation rather than through wars of conquest.

Who colonised the New World? The British began to colonise the Americas in the early 1600’s. These colonies grew peacefully and gradually for many years until the late 1700’s at which time we are looking for another earthly government or another beast. The British were part of the Papal beast. They were a crown or a monarchy that had supported the Papacy. They are one of the ten crowns of the Papal beast (Revelation 13:1). So in order for British colonies in North America to become another beast they had to break away from the previous beast. They had to become independent of the British monarchy, independent of this crown.

Did the British colonies of North America become independent? Yes they did. From 1774 to 1776 the 13 British colonies of North America overthrew their British governments, fighting the American war of independence from 1775 to 1783. The American war of independence was not a war of conquest. It was not the overthrow of nations like the beasts of Daniel. It was simply 13 colonial states standing in defense of their right against the mother country. The independence of the United States of America was recognised by Britain in the year 1783.

Often when other British colonies became independent they retained their ties to the British crown and became constitutional monarchies. But where this beast is concerned the case must be different. It is another beast with a distinct form of government having no ties to a crown of the previous. But what form of government could this be? It is a beast without crowns upon its horns showing that it is not a monarchical or kingly form of government. Also, when this beast or government has acts to perform, it says to them that dwell on the earth that they, the people, should do it (Revelation 13:14). This represents a form of government where power must reside with the people: a republican government. Therefore to fulfill the specifications of this prophecy we look for a Republican form of government to appear in the Americas just prior to the year 1798.

In 1783 when independence of the United States was recognised there were 13 states each with their own Assembly. There was no national government, only a Confederation of States. A more substantial government would be required if these 13 Confederate States were to constitute another whole beast. American leaders such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison sought to create a national government. And for this purpose a Constitutional Convention was convened at Philadelphia in 1787. Delegates from 12 of the 13 states attended.

“The Constitutional Convention began on May 25, 1787, when a quorum of delegates arrived at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, then known as the Pennsylvania State House. The distinguished gathering brought together nearly all of the nation’s most prominent men, including George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the ailing Benjamin Franklin.” ³

The Convention debated and wrote a new Constitution. James Madison was primarily responsible for its wording. The Constitution laid out a republican form of government in which power resides with the people. “Thus the Constitution – which began ‘We the people’—created a government with the people, and not the state legislatures, as the constituent power.” ⁴

The writing of a new Constitution resulted in the formation of a new government. This government or beast when formed must also have two lamblike horns. In prophecy, horns represent powers (see Habakkuk 3:4). Therefore two powers must appear somewhere in the establishment of its Constitution. The first lamblike horn that appeared in the Constitution was power residing with the people rather than with the states. It is the horn of Republicanism, a gentle innocent lamblike principle of equity and fairness in government. For this horn to properly arise the states needed to submit to the Constitution by ratifying it in their own Assemblies.

“The delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a novel method of ratifying the Constitution. Each state was to hold a ratification convention. Once nine states had ratified the document, the government under the Articles of Confederation would end, and the new government would go into effect.” 5 For the new government to go into effect 9 of the 13 states, a three-fourths majority was required to ratify the Constitution.

Ratification of the Constitution took place as follows: “Delaware became the first state to ratify, on December 7, 1787. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina followed it. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, thus making the Constitution legally effective. But without ratification by New York and Virginia, it was doubtful the Constitution could succeed. Virginia ratified four days later, but by the narrow margin of 10 votes out of 168 cast. New York finally ratified on July 26, by a vote of 30 to 27. North Carolina eventually ratified in 1789, and Rhode Island in 1790.” ³

By watching the process of Constitutional ratification we see the rising of the lamblike horn of Republicanism. The exact period of its rise we date from the beginning of the Constitutional Convention May 25, 1787 to June 12, 1788 when the Constitution became legally effective. On that day in 1788 the first lamblike horn pushed its way up.

Protestantism

To complete the beast a second lamblike horn must appear in establishment of the Constitution. Ratification of the Constitution had nearly failed, as many people feared the Constitution did not adequately safeguard their rights. “In closely fought and often bitter battles in state conventions, the Constitution’s supporters secured victory only by promising to amend the Constitution at the first opportunity.” ³

“Leaders in Rhode Island and North Carolina refused to ratify the Constitution because of the lack of a Bill of Rights.” 6 The state of Rhode Island had been established upon the principles of religious liberty. Without a Bill of Rights that included religious liberty Rhode Island did not want to join the Union. Therefore the Constitution must be amended to include a Bill of Rights so that the beast could be properly formed and that the second lamblike horn could appear.
The first Congress under the Constitution met March 4, 1789. In Congress James Madison kept the idea of a Bill of Rights alive. “When Madison reminded fellow members of Congress of the promise to enact a Bill of Rights, his insistence upon action met with some coolness. He kept fighting, however, and presented his plan to the House in June 1789.” 6 After much debate a series of amendments emerged, which Congress passed on September 25, 1789. These became the first ten amendments of the Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights.

Once the Bill of Rights was proposed by Congress, North Carolina and Rhode Island joined the other states in ratifying the Constitution. North Carolina ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789, and became the 12th state to enter the Union. While “Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 states to ratify the Constitution and did so with the narrowest margin, a vote of 34 to 32 on May 29, 1790.” 7 Thus Rhode Island became the 13th state to enter the Union. The Union was now complete and the beast properly formed. To show that this is the beast properly formed, one only need look at the American flag with 13 stripes or the American emblem, an eagle clutching 13 arrows with 13 stars above. These symbols represent the 13 original states that formed the Union.

The Union had been incomplete because the Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights but more particularly, it lacked religious rights. The First Amendment to the American Constitution supplied the lack stating that: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This second lamblike horn that appeared in the Constitution was the power of conscience above civil government. It is the lamblike horn of Protestantism, a gentle innocent lamblike principle of religious liberty. For this horn to properly arise the states needed to ratify the Bill of Rights and amend the Constitution.

“Support from three-fourths of the states is needed to amend the Constitution. Vermont’s 1791 statehood brought the number of states to 14, so 11 states were required to add the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. Virginia became the 11th to do so on December 15, 1791.” ⁶ Thus the states ratified the Bill of Rights in 1791, three years after the Constitution was ratified in 1788.

By watching the process of Constitutional amendment we see the rising of the lamblike horn of Protestantism. The exact period of its rise we date from when Congress first met under the Constitution on March 4, 1789 to December 15, 1791 when the First Amendment became legally effective. On that day in 1791 the second lamblike horn pushed its way up.

To show that the second lamblike horn is indeed Protestantism we can compare the American Constitution to original Protestantism. The American Constitution: “In the famous words of Thomas Jefferson, the Constitution erects a ‘wall of separation’ between church and state. The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause serve as the principle bulwarks against government intrusion in religious life.” 3 Original Protestantism: “The principles contained in this celebrated protest of the 19th April 1529, constitute the very essence of Protestantism. Now this protest opposes two abuses of man in matters of faith: the first is the intrusion of the civil magistrate, and the second the arbitrary authority of the Church. Instead of these abuses, Protestantism sets the power of conscience above the magistrate; and the authority of the Word of God above the visible church.” ⁸ Both the Protest at Spires, where Protestantism gets its name, and the American Constitution profess the exact same principle. They both reject government intrusion in religious life. This principle, the essence of Protestantism, was revived in the American Constitution.

Conclusion

To conclude it may be helpful to briefly review the coming together of the beast of Revelation 13:11. It broke away from the previous beast (1775 – 1783); the first lamblike horn came up (1787 – 1788); the beast itself came together as a complete Union (1790); the second lamblike horn came up (1789 – 1791). All this occurred when it should, just prior to the year 1798. It occurred with such detail and exactness that it demonstrates the truth of the prophecy.
Amen

Glendon Higgins
Perth Australia

References

[1] Great Controversy, pg 441, Ellen G. White
[2] Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899, Ellen G. White
[3] Constitution of the United States, Encarta Encyclopedia
[4] United States (History), Encarta Encyclopedia
[5] Constitutional Convention, Encarta Encyclopedia
[6] Bill of Rights, Encarta Encyclopedia
[7] Rhode Island, Encarta Encyclopedia
[8] History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, J. H. Merle d’Aubigne, pg 521.