New World Order Series

Information Brochure No. 2

To Buy and Sell

INTRODUCTION

God is love, and all His words and actions are motivated by love. It could not be otherwise, for His whole being is love. As we now enter into what are called the last-day prophecies, we will notice that they too are written because of His love for people. That is why He has given so many details of the final scenes.

He has revealed His care for His precious people. He has sought at every turn to make promises which give sweet assurances to His people that He will be with them in the coming storm. He has given His word that He knows how severe will be the test. He has given the prophecies in an effort to forewarn us of the fierceness of the conflict to come, that our faith may remain strong.

In lesson 1, Daniel chapter 2, verses 38-40, we noticed that from the time of the Babylonian Empire we have four successive world empires brought to view. These empires were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Once having introduced the Roman Empire into the prophecy that empire (in various forms discussed below) is never succeeded. In other words, it remains on the scene of action until the end of time.

Throughout the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, we notice that animals or beasts of prey are used to symbolize or describe some earthly power or kingdom. A head represents a governing power, horns also represent kingdoms, crowned heads or crowned horns represent political rulership, and waters represent peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues.

After one pertinent text from Daniel, we will explore the meanings of the prophecy of Revelation 13.

QUESTION 1. (a) Describe the scene revealed in chapter seven of the book of Daniel.

"And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." "The first was like a lion ..." "And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear ..." "After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard ..." "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; ..." Daniel 7:3­7.

(b) (b) In Revelation 13 we have a composite beast introduced. What do the parts of this beast represent?

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."Revelation 13:1­2.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

Of the beasts seen by Daniel in chapter seven, the first was like a lion, the second like to a bear, the third like a leopard, with the fourth described as being dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly. In other words it was beyond all description.

These four beasts symbolize the same four world powers brought to view in Daniel chapter two, and correspond with the four metals of the great image. The physical characteristics of the first three predator animals, namely the leopard, the bear, and the lion, represent the three great empires that had gone before —namely, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece —and indicate the fourth beast to be representing or belonging to the fourth great universal empire. Corresponding to the iron legs of the image of Daniel chapter 2 is the Iron Monarchy of Rome.

The beast seen by John in Revelation 13:1, 2 is said to be a composite beast having characteristics drawn from three of the beasts in Daniel. This doubtless denotes that the power represented by this beast of Revelation possessed characteristics prominent in the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. John alludes to these powers in the reverse order of their appearance in history, as he looks backwards from his day.

The prophecy notes that this beast was seen to be rising up out of the sea, indicating it would rise among the peoples and nations of the world then in existence. This would place it among the nations of Europe.

The empire to rise after that of Greece was Rome, so this leopard-like beast obviously represents that nation. Rome was the only world empire to rise after Greece. The characteristics of the leopard-like beast, and the things it does, and the things that happen to it lead to an understanding that Rome has two phases, pagan and papal. The leopard-like beast must represent the papal phase. We will begin to see the reasons why this is so as we continue with the next question.

QUESTION 2: From the Bible, who is represented by the dragon?

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:9.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

In Revelation 13:2, we learn that the dragon gave the fourth beast its power, its seat, and great authority. In Revelation 12:9 the dragon is identified as “that old serpent called the Devil and Satan”. In the context of this verse, it represents the devil as working through the pagan empire of Rome, the power ruling the world when Jesus was born. This dragon is also represented as being red (Rev. 12:3), because in history it has always been portrayed as a persecuting power and red is the color of blood.

QUESTION 3: (a) What other extraordinary feature is this beast said to have?

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." Revelation 13:1.

(b) Where did the Bible say that this beast (Papal Rome) received its power?

"and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." Revelation 13:2 last part.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

This leopard-like beast is represented as having seven heads and ten horns (see also Rev. 12:3 where the “great red dragon” also had seven heads and ten horns with crowns on the heads, and 17:3 where there is a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns). Here the ten horns have crowns on them. Seven is a number of completeness in the Bible, and these heads may represent powers associated with this beast through which the dragon works. The same could be said of the horns and the crowns.

The dragon gives authority to the leopard-like beast. Though primarily representing Satan, the dragon in a secondary sense, represents the Roman Empire, for this is the power that the dragon had established and worked through. The power succeeding the Roman Empire, which received from the dragon “his power and his seat, and great authority,” is that of Papal Rome. There have always been two phases to the Roman Empire, pagan and papal. “Out of the ruins of political Rome arose the great moral empire in the giant form of the Roman Church.” - A. C. Flick, The Rise of the Medieval Church.

The Roman Empire existed in two phases, the pagan phase that is represented by the dragon, and the second phase of the empire being that of the Papacy, or that represented by the leopard beast. So why does not the same symbol represent it still? Because there has been a change in the religious character of the empire. The leopard represents Rome in its professed Christian form. It is this change in religion, and this alone, that makes a change in the symbol necessary.

In the prophecy, Rome is pagan until Rome is Papal. But standing behind both powers and leading them on is Satan himself. Regarding the Roman Empire as a whole it should be noted that whatever is said of this leopard-like beast applies only to Rome in its professedly Christian form.

QUESTION 4: (a) What happened to the leopard-like beast, and what does this symbolize?

"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death:" Revelation 13:3 first part.

(b) What else is said to happen to this power, and what would that indicate?

"and his deadly wound was healed; and all the world wondered after the beast." Revelation 13:3 last part.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

The prophecy indicates that one of the heads of this seven-headed, ten-horned leopard-like beast would receive a deadly wound, in other words the power represented by this head would suffer some kind of attack that would in some way seriously affect the way it operated. As the leopard-like beast represents the papal phase of the Roman Empire, we must therefore look for some event that occurred to the Papacy that would strip her of her power and authority. The Papacy has always been an ecclesiastical form of government in which the church controlled the state, whereas pagan Rome was in the form of a government-run church.

Under Napoleon, General Berthier and the French army marched into Rome in 1798, took the pontiff prisoner and the papal government was for a time abolished. Stripped of his power, both civil and ecclesiastical, the captive pope, Pius VI, later died in exile at Valence in France, August 29, 1799. For centuries the papacy had used the civil arm of her authority and the authority of those leaders she could control to enforce the traditions and dogmas of the church. For more than one thousand years the true Christian church had been hunted like a wild beast of the mountains and cruelly persecuted for her faith.

The deadly wound healed

However, the prophecy states that this deadly wound would be healed. If the taking of the Pope prisoner where he died in exile along with the abolition of the papal government brought about the deadly wound, then to be consistent the healing of that wound would be the restoration of the power and authority of the Papacy. This began when the Papacy was reestablished, though with less of its former authority, by the election of a new pope on March 14, 1800.

From this point in the prophecy the focus of attention is on the healing of that wound, the restoration of her power. Without a clear grasp of the prophetic symbolism depicting the restoration of the power of the Papacy and the consequent furious struggle for life among liberty-loving people, it is impossible to understand the full import of Revelation's portrayal of the final conflict during which all the world wonders after the beast.

In 1929 through a concordat with Mussolini, Vatican state was formed, and full civil authority and status was restored to the Papacy. Today the Roman church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world, to reestablish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done.

QUESTION 5: During and after the healing of the deadly wound what astonishing thing is said to happen?

"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. "And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" Revelation 13:3-4.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

The focus of attention is now on the restoration of her power. All the world wondered after the Roman power or stood astonished as they witnessed her activities. In the events now taking place is seen a rapid advance toward the fulfillment of the prediction. History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations.

As the world once again begins to look to Rome, great changes will soon take place. These changes that are developing among the nations are occurring in favor of Papal schemes. Every element of power is about to be set at work. Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life and peril will beset the people on every side. Intensity is taking hold of the human family.

As the pontiff travels the world meeting with its leaders, Rome's aim is to reestablish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. She is steadily growing in power, and strengthening her forces to further her own ends. All that she desires is vantage ground. When she has gained the ascendancy the world will bow in worship.

Well might any person who sees the activities of human society wonder that kings, statesmen and governors who have studied the history of the terrible state of affairs that existed during the Dark Ages when the Papacy controlled the governments of Europe, should be so utterly foolish as to permit this power to ever gain control of the state again, this time in a worldwide capacity.

It surely is incredible that intelligent men and women who know the history of the vile and cruel days when the Papacy dictated to the state, men and women who have experienced the blessings of the period of liberty and democracy which has given freedom from the bitter persecution of the Dark Ages, should with all this knowledge demonstrated before them permit themselves to be deluded into parting with their blood-bought heritage, to part with their democratic forms of government, and allow the state to be controlled by the church again.

For this is surely the underlying message of Revelation 13. Worship is the hidden agenda in all the effort to restore the Papacy to its former power and glory. All that she desires is vantage ground and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and feel what the purpose of the Roman element is.

QUESTION 6: (a) After witnessing the spectacular events in the restoration of Rome back to power, to what does the prophet next draw our attention?

"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. 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." Revelation 13:11, 12.

(b) How does he speak?

"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." Revelation 13:11.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

This brings to view the third great symbol in the line of prophecy we are examining. We have noticed that the symbol in the preceding verses represent two great systems of religion: paganism and Catholicism. The analogy would seem to require that the remaining symbol, the two-horned beast, also find its fulfillment in some nation which is representative of still another great system of religion.

The only remaining system that is exercising a controlling influence in the world today is Protestantism. Protestantism is the religion of the nations that constitute the vanguard of the world in liberty, enlightenment, progress, and power. If, then, Protestantism is the system to which we are to look, to what nation as the representative of that system does the prophecy have application?

We have already noticed that a beast coming up out of the sea, denotes a power arising among the great populated areas of the earth, as water is a symbol of people and multitudes. As land is in contrast to water, we conclude that the analogy would require that this nation be seen coming up in a sparsely populated area of the earth, as a young nation just coming to power. The characteristics of this beast give us some indication as to its identification: it has two horns like a lamb. It would also be a Christian country, as a lamb is a symbol of Christ, the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The expression "coming up," must signify that the power to which it applies was but newly organized, and was then just rising to prominence and influence. On what period in this world's history is the rise of this power placed in the prophecy? This is a foundational point.

The prophecy has placed the rise of this nation in the time of the leopard-like beast (Papacy), and more importantly at the time when the Papacy receives its deadly wound, and as we have discovered, this took place in 1798. This then gives us the time frame definitely specified when we are to look for the rise of this power. In 1798 when the papal power received its deadly wound, the government of the United States, located in the Western Continent, was the only great and independent nation coming into prominence in territory not previously occupied.

On what conditions have other nations found a place in prophetic record? First, they have acted a prominent part in the world's history; second, and above all, they have had some influence on the truth or will play a part in the providence of God. These conditions have certainly been fulfilled in the United States.

The two horns also indicate youthfulness, innocence and gentleness, founded on and exercising civil and religious liberty. The two horns may also well symbolize these two fundamental principles of the United States government. That this nation could be founded on such noble principles, and yet degenerate to the level where she speaks as a dragon is astonishing. The voice of the dragon is the voice of intolerance and persecution.

This indicates that this nation, which for over a century has stood as a beacon light of liberty to the world, will repudiate its mild and lamblike professions of civil and religious liberty and become a persecuting power. This is what is meant when it says “that he exerciseth all the powers of the first beast before him.” In the government of pagan Rome (dragon), we saw what the power of the state could do, for it was this power that ruled when Christ was crucified.

Having achieved its goal, this power causes, or introduces some form of legislation or international treaty that will require the nations and the inhabitants thereof to give obeisance to Rome.

QUESTION 7: (a) List the activities of this power in connection with the first beast.

"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." Revelation 13:12.

(b) What are the activities of this power that suggest it involves religion?

"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; 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." Revelation 13:13, 14.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

Not only does this nation speak as a dragon, or should we say becomes the voice of the dragon, or the governments that it represents, but it is declared that he also exercises all the authority of the first empire mentioned in the prophecy.

If a New World Order was ever to be achieved, the power behind the scenes —Rome working through the many secret societies —would have to gain control of the United States of America, and use its prestige and economic influence to lead the rest of the nations into the order. Only America with its vast resources and technology, combined with the moral influence of the mighty Roman Catholic Church, can achieve that which the prophecy has indicated.

The United States of America and its vast computer companies have designed both the hardware and the software needed for centralized banking, along with its giant telecommunications companies and space program to design and launch the satellites necessary to control such a style of government. Only the United States of America with its mighty dollar, the closest thing there is to a world currency, has the wealth and infrastructure to make it all happen.

Giant multi-national corporations are accumulating great power with its inherent corrupting tendency. The television industry in general has developed, and continues to develop the infrastructure necessary for directing the thinking of an ever larger proportion of the world's population. Many fail to realize that the great media moguls of the world have been commissioned with the task of selling the idea and policies of the new world order to the people of the world.

Besides punishing an aggressor nation, the Persian Gulf war also had other effects. The role of the U.S.A. as the world's only superpower was reinforced, and there was a push to recognize something called a New World Order. Indirectly it showed nations what they could expect if they refused to unite with the coming system. As the potential enforcer of the New World Order, it is America's role to ensure that the nations cooperate.

We are just beginning to understand what is meant by the “United States of America speaking as a dragon.” Kings, rulers and governors have placed upon themselves the brand of Antichrist and are represented by the dragon, for satanic agencies have been moved from beneath, and they have inspired men to unite in a confederacy of evil. The only institution on the face of the earth to fit such a description is the United Nations Organization, and according to the prophecy, the U.S.A. would become its voice and in that capacity will exercise all the power of the first beast before him.

Looking back a little, we find that the first beast before him is the leopard, a symbol of the Papacy. We will also notice that this two-horned creature causes the people within his jurisdiction to worship the first beast, the symbol of the Papacy. Such worship literally means to submit to the authority of the one to whom obeisance is made. This she does through the nations sanctioning erroneous principles by enactment of laws. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that a so-called Protestant nation, the United States, will exercise the persecuting power of the Papacy.

Let this principle once be established through and in the United States of America, that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by civil laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience; then the triumph of Rome is assured. One has only to observe the power of the United Nations exercised through America in such countries as Iraq, Haiti, and Bosnia to understand the potential danger of that power.

All the power and resources she can muster will be used to coerce or force the world into cooperation. In order to persuade men and women to worship, great miracles will be seen. Miracles are in the realm of religion. Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens in token of this miracle-working power. By these miracles statesmen and citizens alike will be fastened in deception. Having gained their confidence and cooperation, the United States of America will then recommend that the nations make an image to the Papacy. The deception accomplished by the working of the events of supernatural character, prepares the way for compliance with this demand for the formation of an image to the Papacy (beast).

Every method possible will be used to cause men to believe that this grand movement will be for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long awaited millennium of peace. However the prophecy makes it abundantly clear that this movement is the work of deception.

QUESTION 8: (a) What did this power say to the inhabitants of the earth?

"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." Revelation 13:14 last part.

(b) What will happen to those that refused to bow in worship of this power?

"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Revelation 13:15.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

Closely associated with the working of miracles is the erection of an image to the beast (the Papacy). The deception accomplished by the working of the miracles prepares the way for compliance with the demand. It must be remembered that the Papacy was a church clothed with civil power, an ecclesiastical body having the control of the state —a religio-political Power —having the power to punish all dissenters with confiscation of goods, imprisonment, torture and death.

What would be an image of the Papacy? Another ecclesiastical establishment clothed with civil power, in other words, a union of church and state. Protestants will work upon the rulers of the land to establish laws that will restore the last ascendancy of the Roman power. Roman Catholic principles will be taken under the care and protection of the state.

An image to the Papacy would be a re-establishment of this false system of religion dominating the governments of the world. The prophecy is stating that the power of the Papacy would be restored. We must conclude that in such an event we would see a return to the type of church-state alliance that characterized the medieval church of the Dark Ages. In this case it is to be established by the United States of America.

“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” GC 445.

This activity will be speedily followed by national ruin. As the prophecy indicates, "WORSHIP" is the hidden agenda. The inhabitants of the earth are required to bow in obeisance to this false system of religion. Severe penalties will be placed upon those who refuse to comply, with death being the ultimate penalty.

QUESTION 9: (a) After the restoration of this power, what did he cause to be done to the inhabitants of this earth?

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:" Revelation 13:16.

(b) What privileges did he have the power to deny the citizen of each country?

"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:17.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

Please give attention to this point, this mark [known as "the mark of the beast"] is a mark associated with worship. From verse 4 onwards the focus of attention has been on worship and the development of a counterfeit system of religion. Therefore, to be consistent the mark must be interpreted in this context. It is not a literal mark such as a tattoo placed upon the person. It is a symbol of obeisance, and the receiving of this mark is the act that the two-horned beast, the symbol of the United States of America, caused to be done.

The inhabitants of the earth will receive this mark only when and if they willingly decide to either become absorbed into this false system of worship, or to acknowledge its authority through the civil powers. In this religio-political confederacy, the inhabitants of the earth will receive the mark in either one of two ways.

(a) By participating in its style of worship the mark is received in the forehead, as worship is more an act of the mind than anything else.

(b) It will be received in the hand by those who are indifferent, or non-religious, but give formal or outward consent by way of civil legislation.

All who refuse to receive this mark will be boycotted, or denied the rights and privileges of business and trade, as well as the ordinary means of gaining a livelihood through the control of finance.

Severe trade sanctions will be enforced upon any nation that refuses to cooperate with the program. Through experiences during the Second World War and many other civil disturbances since then, it has become common knowledge that when people are faced with hunger, with the threat of humanitarian needs of their families being cut off, most of the nations and their people will surrender their peculiar ideologies and philosophy in order to have these necessities restored.

QUESTION 10: What is said to be wisdom and understanding?

"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six [666]." Revelation 13:17, 18.

NOTE AND ANSWER:

It will be noticed that this beast is not a computer or any such thing, as it has a number, and it is the number of a man. The most plausible expression suggested as containing the number of the beast, is one of the titles applied to the Pontiff of Rome. That title is Vicarius Filii Dei, "Viceregent of the Son of God."

This title appears in Latin, as Latin was the official language of the Church of Rome and the language of its adopted Bible, the vulgate. As to the practice of representing names by numbers, we find it was a method practiced among the ancients to denote names by numbers. And so by using the numeral letters of his name, we shall make up his number. The Roman numeral value of his title when added together is 666.

CONCLUSION

A fearful conflict is just before us. The issue is becoming more defined with the passing of time. The United States of America, with a heritage of freedom of religion, has begun to stretch her hand to at first cooperate with the Papal system against a common enemy, but then to come under Papal influence to support religious dogma that has no basis in the Bible.

Satanic agencies are working to inspire men to unite in a confederacy of evil to repress religious freedom. Soon, very soon, they will call for a spiritual leader of the world, and all will be required to give obeisance to him. To give obeisance to him will be to deny and offend God. Dear student, are you ready for such a conflict?

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