October 1: TWO HORNS OR ONE?
And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Revelation 13:12
The healing of the first beast’s deadly wound is rapidly progressing on the prophetic timeline. The pope is wildly popular, and his popularity swells by the day. Remember the source of the authority of the first beast (see vv. 2, 4, & 5)!
The two lamblike horns on the second beast can be seen in the first amendment to our Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Included in the first amendment is also freedom of speech and the press, freedom to assemble peaceably, and freedom to petition the government. These freedoms have been sustained at great cost, yet are under constant attack from without and from within. These two horns of power representing civil government and religion, were to be kept separate and distinct, guarded from interference, in light of the painful past of relentless government interference with Christianity by order of the pope during medieval times. It is a bloody history indeed. Estimates of the persecution death toll (including women and children) amount to over one hundred million.
Notice that the first beast of Revelation 13 is portrayed in the book of Daniel by a single horn, a little one . . . with eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking pompous words (7:8). This one little horn shows the power of church and state rolled into one, controlled by the same individual. This scenario is fulfilled in the most renowned religiopolitical power in the world today: the Catholic church/state. The head of church and the head of state is one person: the pope.
The United States is tobogganing toward uniting its own powers of church and state. There are many political promotions on social media parroting the message that church and state should be together. As the pope and his church gain more traction and influence in Protestant America, more freedoms will be eroded. Americans are gradually—with the occasional leap—becoming more accepting of this consolidation of power. These things are happening before our eyes.
The second beast will soon exercise all the authority of the first beast in his presence to cause the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. Packed into this verse are two conditions that will facilitate this. One is made evident by the phrase in his presence, for these two beasts are becoming fast friends. The other condition is nearing completion: the deadly wound will soon be healed. A vast ignorance of history, especially among younger generations, is being taken advantage of. The practice of rewriting history, which modifies or deletes selected details, renders textbook accounts innocuous and ambiguous. Unbiblical practices are hailed as “sound tradition” or labeled as “harmless”. Rituals are portrayed as a relationship with Christ. The most effective facilitator of this deadly wound healing is ignorance of the Scriptures.
…the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. Psalm 119:98