The United States as the "Lamb-like" beast

Revelation 13:11 brings to view another beast, different from the ones before it in many respects. Because we expect the prophecy to explain itself, we must look in context to understand what this beast represents.

THE TIMING OF THE BEAST'S APPEARANCE

At what point in the world's history does this beast appear? It was at the time when the "Leopard-like" beast went into captivity, or received its deadly wound by the sword. (vs. 10) John saw the lamb-like beast arise immediately after the leopard-like beast was wounded almost to death, so we can look for the lamb-like beast to arise about the time of the deadly wound. Since we know that the leopard-like beast symbolizes the papacy, and we know that the deadly wound was received in 1798, we can look for the rise of the lamb-like beast around that time.

Can there be any doubt about what nation was "coming up" in 1798? Certainly it must be admitted that the United States is the only nation that meets the specifications of the prophecy regarding the time of its appearance.

LOCATION OF THE LAMB-LIKE BEAST

A single declaration of prophecy is sufficient to guide us to important and correct conclusions on this point. First, John calls it "another beast." It therefore has no part of the first beast. This is fatal to the idea set forth by some that the lamb-like beast is really another phase of the papacy, because if it were it would be part of the leopard-like beast rather than "another beast" independent and autonomous.

But the main thing we see about the location of this beast is that it comes up out of the earth or out of the land. As Rev. 17:15 states, the sea represents nations, tongues, and peoples. The other beasts came up out of the sea--very populated areas. But this beast comes up out of the land--a relatively unpopulated region. Again, the United States is the only nation to which this specification can apply.

CHARACTER OF ITS GOVERNMENT SYMBOLIZED

In describing this beast, John said that it had "two horns like a lamb." What do the two horns signify? Horns always signify powers. So, what powers has the United States? The Hon. J. A. Bingham gives us the clue to the whole matter when he states that the object of those who first sought the shores of the United States was to find "what the world had not seen for ages; viz., a church without a pope, and a state without a king." Stated another way, the government of the United States answers the two horns with two separate realms of state: ecclesiastical power, and civil power. Both were to remain separate and thus the two horns would demonstrate civil and religious liberty in government. In what other country of the world can be found a more adequate fulfillment of the two horns of the lamb-like beast?

REPUBLICAN IN FORM

The lamb-like beast is significant in that there are no crowns upon its horns or upon its head. This symbolizes a nation with no royalty, no king. A crown is a fitting symbol for a kingly or dictatorial form of government. Look at other beasts in Bible prophecy. Thus, the absence of crowns is fitting as a symbol for a republican form of government. However, even more important than the lack of crowns, verse 14 of the chapter shows a republican form of government. Instead of taking matters into its own hands, using its own power, the lamb-like beast appeals to its people in verse 14 "Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast." The lamb-like beast says that THEY the people should make the image; it does nothing of itself, it has no power to make the image by any force of rule like other nations might exercise.

IT SPEAKS AS A DRAGON

This can only mean that over time this power loses its lamb-like attributes and assume dragon-like characteristics. It exchanges its fundamental principle of toleration for the Satanic principles of force and intolerance. Although it rises like a lamb; it ends like a dragon.

We have already seen that the dragon symbolizes Satan in the primary sense. So, it is clear that the United States will begin to use Satanic methods and will assume Satanic attributes before the prophecy is completely fulfilled. In fact, in verse 12 we see that the United States will exercise Satanic power in causing all to worship the first beast that had the deadly wound--which we know is the papacy. Thus, the United States will shed the two lamb-like horns of civil and religious liberty in order that it may speak as a dragon and cause the people to "worship the first beast."