07. "THE WORKING OF SATAN"

Likewise, in full agreement with this is the statement of 2 Thess. ii. 9, 10: "Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness."

Each of these passages speaks of extraordinary signs and wonders, which will have the effect of deceiving practically the whole world.

3. This coming magnate is to be supported by the political power of the day, and is also to be supernaturally endowed by Satan. This is shown by the above-quoted passage from 2 Thess. ii. It also appears from Rev. xiii. 12. "And he exerciseth all the power (or authority) of the first beast before him."

4. This potentate will exercise supreme control over the religious worship of the time; for he "causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast," and "that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed."

It will seem strange to some, and even unbelievable, that the present tendencies to extreme religious tolerance and liberality should culminate in a condition of such absolute intolerance. But thus it is that extremes often meet; and the foregoing prediction will not seem so incredible to those who have watched the rapid rise of Socialism. The first beast is the State,—the supreme political authority,—and the religion of Socialism is the worship of Humanity, whose authority according to that system is to be

14 HUMAN ACTIVITIES OF PRESENT DAY vested absolutely in the State. This will be unfolded as we proceed with our inquiry.

5. This great personage will also exercise complete control over all industrial operations; for "he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; 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."

The general purport of this is plain enough, although we must await the progress of events for comprehension of the details of the system here indicated. This important passage of Scripture puts clearly before us the prediction of a world-wide consolidation, syndicate, or merger, a mammoth monopoly, a titanic "trust," which shall absolutely control the marketing of all commodities; insomuch that no one will be able to engage in any commercial operation whatever, except under the sanction of the trade-mark of the beast.

Such a state of things would have seemed the wildest kind of an improbability a century ago; but to day the ordinary observer is able to discern, without any aid from prophecy, indications of the speedy arrival of this gigantic business organization, the "Trust of Trusts."

6. The description of the vision closes with a verse upon which much ingenuity has been expended, and to little purpose. "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it

"HIS NUMBER IS 666"

is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred three score and six."

Undoubtedly much will depend upon the "understanding" of this verse by those who shall be on the earth at the time of the occurrence of these great events; and the passage seems to contain the assurance that those who fear God will be able to count correctly the number of the beast. But for our present purpose it suffices to get an outline of the meaning. The explanation contained in the verse itself is that the number "is the number of Man"—man's number. In the light of current events this is quite intelligible, within limits. "And his number is 666." Man's number is 6, the number of weakness and incompleteness, since it just "comes short" of the perfect number 7. Man's two main characteristics as stated in Romans iii. 23, are that he "has sinned and comes short." Man was created on the sixth day, and is thus from the beginning associated with that number. His work, moreover, is to be done in six days.

But here we have man's number thrice repeated. There is in this a suggestion of the fulness of development of humanity, and of human institutions,—the ripening, in the last great system over which the superman will preside, of all the schemes and efforts and inventive genius of mankind. It is the finality of "progress," the consummation of "civilization," that is to say of man's career of self-will following upon his departure from God at the instigation of the devil. It is the sum total, the three dimensions, the length, breadth, and thickness of human achievements; and in every direction the count is six. It is man's number carried to its highest coefficient.

And here the vision breaks off, showing that this is the ultimate condition of that state of things which constitutes the subject-matter of the vision.

Gathering together the main features of this remarkable vision, we find that it pictures to us the outcome of the era of industrial activity, to wit, a mighty and world-wide monopoly or consolidation, embracing in its scope both the religious and the secular affairs of all mankind.

It is this strange blend of things religious and secular, the combination of church and business, which marks this system as something unique and extraordinary. That there should be eventually a great business combination, a single huge "Trust," has been foreseen since early in the current era of consolidations. And that this idea of "consolidation" should, along with other "business methods" (which are so "highly esteemed among men"), find its way into the ecclesiastical shells of what were once Christ's witnesses to the world, might also have been foreseen. Certainly this principle of consolidation is already operating potently in the religious sphere. This is apparent in many quarters; and men are everywhere dreaming a dream inspired by the world's activities, to wit, the dream of