“And he spake as a dragon.” Rev. 13:11.
Note.—The voice of the dragon is the voice of intolerance and persecution. This indicates that the ecclesiastical development dealt with in this prophecy, obtaining a foothold for its initial power and influence in the government of the United States, will repudiate the mild and lamblike principles of civil and religious liberty, and become like the beast before it, a world-wide persecuting power. This is why in Rev. 19:20 it is called “the false prophet.” Born of the Reformation, it will repudiate Reformation principles.
5. How much power will this beast exercise?
“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” Verse 12.
Note.—The “first beast before him” (papal Rome) exercised the power of persecuting and putting to death all who differed from it in religious matters. The only way the earth can be made to worship is by causing work to cease on it through voluntary or enforced rest, or sabbath-keeping. “For as long as she [the land] lay desolate she kept sabbath.” 2 Chron. 36:21. Enforced Sunday observance is evidently implied here.
6. What means will be employed to lead the people back into this false worship?
“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast.” Verse 14, first part.
7. What will this power propose that the people shall do?
“Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword; and did live.” Verse 14, latter part.
Note.—The beast “which had the wound by a sword, and did live,” is the Papacy. That was a church dominating the civil power. In other words, it was a union of church and state, and enforced its religious dogmas by the civil power, under pain of confiscation of goods, imprisonment, and death. An image to this beast would be another ecclesiastical organization clothed with civil power—another union of church and state—to enforce religious dogmas by law.