CHAPTER
XX.
THE
KINGDOM OF ANTICHRIST NOW
DEVELOPING.
“The
other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short
space.”—Rev. 17: 1O.
IN
our last chapter it was stated that a mountain is one of the common Scriptural
representations of a regal dominion; and accordingly we interpreted the seven
heads of the Antichrist, and identified six of them as being Egypt, Assyria,
Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. It
was told John that the seventh kingdom was not yet come in his day, and we
take the position that this seventh head has not fully come even yet.
I do believe, however, that it is now developing, and that it will soon
be fully established. In this
chapter we wish to discuss the seventh head or the present developing of the
kingdom of Antichrist.
Of the fact that no government can exist without a religion, we must
not lose sight. It was much in
accordance with its religious ideas that each nation mentioned above made its
laws. We shall find the same to
be true with regard to the seventh head.
Let us notice the religious or ecclesiastical element first.
What are the principal professional religions in the world today?
It is answered, Christianity, Judaism, Mohammedanism, Buddism,
Brahmanism, and Guebres. Of these
only two, Christianity and Judaism, even recognize the Son of God.
The others are of Antichrist. Even one of these two, Judaism, denies
that Christ has come in the flesh. John
says, “This is that spirit of antichrist.”—1 John 4:3; 2 John 7.
Of the professed Christians of the earth, the majority are Roman
Catholics. Only a small per cent
of Protestant Christians are trusting the blood of Jesus alone for their
salvation. Do not many profess
Christianity, and practice something else?
What are the principal religions practiced in the world today?
I
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THE
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answer: 1st, Mysticism; 2nd, Sculpture, Architecture, and Painting; 3rd, Self‑exaltation; 4th, Morality; 5th, Athletics and Education; and 6th, Cruelty. Each of these terms has several subdivisions, and of a few of those we choose to speak in order given.
1. Mysticism. Of the many
forms of mysticism in the world at present, we mention, superstition,
witchcraft, sleight-of‑hand, hypnotism, fortune‑telling,
necromacy, all forms of spiritism, etc. These
practices have taken such a hold upon many that in many cases they have become
the practical religion of Christians, Jews, Mohammedans, and all the rest,
alike. Whatever religion the
people may profess, one practical religion of the world is Mysticism.
2. Sculpture, Architecture, and Painting.
The nations are worshipping the works of men’s hands.
Sculpture worship will include the worshipping of images, as well as
the heart devotion that is given to such work in Christian nations.
Architecture worship will include all devotion given to buildings.
Devotion to paintings prevails largely in the hearts of many.
While some may count these things fancies of my own, yet I am sure that
there are many people far more earnestly devoted to the works of art than to
Christ. His heart’s devotion determines
the practical religion of any person. If
he is consecrated to Christ more than to any other, he has the religion of
Christ; if he is consecrated more to another, he has the religion of another.
Thus it is that one practical religion of the world today is Sculpture,
Architecture, and Painting.
3.
Self‑exaltation. In
business, in politics, in religion today, it is big “I” and little
“u.” The exalting of self
above others prevails among all classes of society everywhere. Every
self‑exalting thought, every word or feeling that would in any way rob
Christ of the glory that belongs to Him, is of the spirit of antichrist.
The world‑wide, all‑predominating feature of religion and
of everything else today is Self‑exaltation.
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4.
Morality. Can any one object to
good morals, or say that morality is of the devil?
By no means. It is not so
much morality itself that is of the spirit of antichrist, but the substitution
of morality for salvation. Every
practice that fails to honor the blood of Christ as the sure and only hope of
salvation is clearly the practical religion of Antichrist.
Thousands are now basing their hope of salvation on their morality.
Nimrod purposed to climb up to heaven on his works; and there are many
in the world today who are expecting to do the same.
In fact, it is alarming how few people there are who know anything
about the blood experimentally. Thus,
one of the practical religions of the world today is Morality.
5. Athletics and Education. The
Base Ball Instruction Book might be called “The American Bible” today.
Thousands study base ball more than they study the Bible.
To say that many have base ball religion is not saying too much at all.
Education is often substituted for salvation.
Many churches would prefer an educated preacher without salvation to a
saved preacher without an education. Thus
it is that one of the principal religions practiced in the world today is
Athletics and Education.
6.
Cruelty. Many heathens offer
human sacrifices to their gods, as a part of their religion.
Thousands think that cruelty in warfare pleases the gods.
The cruel, harsh, tyrannical principles of Roman government are still
in existence, in some form, in almost every government in the world.
Murder, suicide, homicide, infanticide, foeticide, etc., can all be
included here. What a large place
these practices fill in the religions of the world today.
Thus it is that one of the principal features of the religions of the
world is Cruelty.
It is not claimed that the above are the only features of the
Antichrist religion. Time would
fail us in enumerating the many forms of false religion with which we are
acquainted. We mention these only
to show you that the leading characteristics of the religions of the first
six heads of Antichrist are in
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the world today; but we would have you remember that the religion of Antichrist now has a thousand features.
One thing noticeable about all forms of false religion in the world at
present is that they are gradually coming together.
Conditions everywhere are pointing towards one centre.
Unity is a favorite topic of discussion among church officials, and
some plans have been formulated already upon which it is proposed to unite
different branches of the church. A
conference of D. D.’s and Jewish Rabbis, meeting in November, 1900, in New
York City, prepared a book of common worship for Christians, Jews, Hindus, and
other infidels. In it appears
Scriptures from both Testaments, from the sacred writings of the East, prayers
from the Jewish ritual and Episcopal Prayer Book, and from the offices of the
Eastern Church and of the Roman Catholic Church.
Every reference to Christ as the Deity has been carefully omitted from
this book. Father Hyacinthe, a
French Catholic, has been endeavoring to found a church which will include
Christians, Mohammedans and Jews. Mr.
W. T. Stead proposed a “union of the churches on the basis of an
‘ideal church,’ in which there should be included a theatre and a
saloon.” The above six forms of
practical religion are all pointing towards centralization.
From the movement of things at present, it seems that in a short time
all forms of false worship will be united into one great organization.
In addition to the facts we have just mentioned, there has been for
some time another power at work, which is hastening towards centralization as
fast as are the religious movements. This
power looms up in every land, far above all individual or combined powers of
church, state or creed. It today
monopolizes nearly all legislation, governs the conferences of kings,
dictates international treaties, cuts ship canals, builds railways, employs
thousands of engineers, subsidizes the press, tells us of the markets of the
world yesterday that we may know what to do today, has her organizations in
every town and city, interlinked with each other, and coming every day
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THE
KINGDOM OF ANTICHRIST NOW DEVELOPING.
into
closer and closer combination, so that no great government on earth can any
longer move or act against her will, or without her concurrence and consent.
It is a power that is entwining itself like a serpent about religious
organizations, and is no less drawing into a central point the six forms of
religions mentioned above. The
whole world is rapidly developing a system of things which, in the ordinary
course of human affairs, must inevitably result in some great centre.
It is the power of which I speak that is rapidly bringing everything
together. What is this power?
Is there any one who does not know?
It is COMMERCE.
Centralization is the great theme today with the men of money and
ecclesiastical leaders. Rich men
are heaping their treasures together; church officers move according to the
dictates of the money powers. Talk
of competition between the great corporations of today!
There is pretended competition. In
many of the great incorporations, the same men hold stock in several
companies. Let things go on as
they are now going, and in a short time a few moneyed men will own the whole
world; these men will work in harmony with each other, and will establish
one grand commercial centre; ecclesiastical organizations and all forms of
false religion will reverently bow and unite themselves to this centre; and
this combination will constitute a power world‑wide, such as this world
has never before known. To this
power every government under the sun will have to submit.
To such a state of affairs, we are rapidly approaching.
Such a system is now being developed.
In a previous chapter we spoke of the great European war.
We there stated that it is our thought that said war will eventually
result in the establishment of ten kingdoms embracing all the nations of the
earth under their domain, thus bringing in the “toe age” of
Nebuchadnezzar’s vision. If
this should happen, it would be a great step towards the state of affairs of
which I am speaking. Peace
conferences would then multiply, and strong treaties would be made between
these ten govern-
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ments.
One great commercial center would then be a necessity.
With such a development of affairs as this, there would be a still
stronger influence toward centralization, and it would take but a short time
for the seventh head to be fully realized.
What shall we say of all these things?
What shall we call this great system now developing?
It will be the seventh head of Antichrist.
It will continue but a short space.
It will be immediately followed by the final Antichrist himself, who is
declared to be the eighth head. (Rev. 17: 11.)
That the system above described is now developing can not be denied;
but, can it be proven that this system will be the seventh head of Antichrist?
I think so; and, in proof of the same I beg you to consider the
following points:
1. When the final
Antichrist, who is the eighth head (Rev. 17: 11 ) shall appear, he shall find
his kingdom already developed; for it shall be “given” unto him.
(Rev. 13: 2.)
2. The Bible teaches that
in the last days rich men will put their treasures together (James 5: 3); a
thing unknown a century ago, and prophecy indicates that there will be a great
commercial and ecclesiastical center. (Zech.
5: 5‑11.)
4. There are many signs
that we are now in the last days; and hence, the system mentioned above must
be the fulfilling of James 5: 3, and Zech. 5: 5‑11.
Conclusion: If, when the
final Antichrist shall come, he shall find his kingdom already developed as
the seventh head, his “seat” being a commercial center; if rich men are to
heap their treasures together in the last days, and build this commercial
center; and if we are now in the last days, and rich men are preparing to
build such a center,—the conclusion is inevitable that the system now
developing will become the seventh head of Antichrist.