SECOND DISCOURSE OF THE MONSTER WHO HE WILL BE AND HIS NAME HOW HE WILL OBTAIN POWER TROUBLE FOR GERMANY, FRANCE, AND RUSSIA COMMUNISM ROMANISM SHAKERS MATTHIAS, WEST CHESTER PROPHET.

“Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thess. i, 4.

We may reasonably ask why Paul gave the Thessalonians this caution, and the answer will appear at once if we read his first epistle to this people. There you will find Paul writing to them about the second coming of Christ, which writing the Thessalonians had evidently misunderstood, and this misunderstanding was working mischief among them. They had false hopes and expectations. Their faith, instead of exciting them to holy activity in Church and State, had begun to paralyse all their efforts. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep; for the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first (that is, before Christ descends); then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. i-17). It was the frequent use of the pronoun “we” that had confused them we who remain, we who are alive. The Thessalonians had inferred from this that the second coming of Christ would take place in their day. Hence, to correct this impression Paul thus writes in his second epistle. The two verses preceding the text show us Paul’s intent. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” Then comes in the text, “Let no man deceive you,” &c.

In reasoning on such important subjects as Anti-Christ, resurrection, and second coming of Christ, we should always be mindful of the Scriptural order. When we sit down to take dinner, we follow the order that custom has prescribed, soup, fish, meats, and dessert. Children, however, if let alone, would reverse this order by beginning with the dessert first. So with many Christians, they reverse the order of things as laid down in the Bible. They make Christ to come before Anti-Christ, and Anti-Christ to come before the Jews and Ten Lost Tribes are gathered together again and settled after their first estate in Palestine. The Millerites could neither have deceived themselves nor others had they taken knowledge of the relation of things. The Jews and Lost Tribes had not been gathered together then, the temple had not been built in Jerusalem, as described in the last chapter of Ezekiel, neither had Anti-Christ appeared. But such was the folly of men then, and not less now than then. Four-fifths of the prophecies of the Bible refer to the history of Judah and Israel in their own land, their captivity and return in the latter day. Still men take one-fifth and confuse themselves and everybody else. They have brought the prophets and prophecy into bad repute by ignorantly or wilfully interpreting the same.

We freely avow now that the prophecy fulfilling at present is the finding of the Lost Ten Tribes, then their union with the Jews, then their restoration to Palestine, then after being settled there for some time, the Jews, as Jews, having built their new temple, and having established the Mosaic temple service again, and the Lost Tribes as Christians, then and there we may look for Anti-Christ not before. Not for the sake of boasting, and yet without fear, we freely invite ministers or laymen anywhere to disprove these facts, and to such we will respond cheerfully if asked for farther proof. The Lost Tribes, we believe, are come to light, and may be found in the Saxon race chiefly as represented in this country and Great Britain. If this be so, then we may look for the preparatory signs in Providence and nations, and thank Heaven, these are at hand and in accord with the Divine Word.

In Nebuchadnezzar’s metallic image we saw Rome symbolised by the legs, composed of iron and clay. We saw, also, that the little stone cut out of the mountain began its destructive assault on the image, by striking the feet; these it would first break, so Rome politically has disappeared. The ten toes, however, symbolised ten kings or kingdoms that were to arise in the latter day, or at the time of the end. These ten kingdoms are also symbolised in Daniel’s dream by ten horns that came out of the head of the nondescript animal that stood for Rome. It is out of one of these ten horns that another little horn grows, having eyes like a man and a mouth speaking great things that is, Anti-Christ. It is at once plain, then, that ere Anti-Christ can appear, these ten kingdoms must be formed. How, when, and where will these ten kingdoms be formed? The clay part of Rome is still alive, and is designated by Daniel, and by John in Revelation, under the name of beast; and here you need to be careful, for the word beast is sometimes given to Anti-Christ, so as not to confound it with the word beast when it stands for the Romish Church. They will be formed out of Spain, Italy, France, and part of Austria. Edom, Moab, and the sons of Ammon in Austria, are to be free that is, the Poles, Magyars, and Hungarians. The setting up of these ten kingdoms will begin in France by a revolution.

By the doctrine of infallibility, these countries are claimed by Rome, and wedded to her, and this doctrine of infallibility makes a divorce impossible. Rome waits only her time to reclaim her supposed own. And this doctrine of infallibility will make it a holy war, hence good and true Catholics everywhere will be obliged to sustain the same by their money, or presence, or prayers. This, to many of our Catholic friends, will sound strange. But this they know, if such an emergency ever does arise they cannot well fight against the infallible Church between commands and duties, they will readily prefer the Pope and Church to king and country.

The Jesuits are now, and have long been, preparing for such an event: they expect it. By their plottings and intrigues they will again, as many times before, involve the Church in war. They are busy sowing the seeds of discord. In past time both the Church itself and nations have banished these crafty fellows from their pale and country. The United States alone, of the nations of the earth, is the only one that has not so done. But even among us they are plotting and manoeuvring to such an extent that it will not be long before America will be tested and tried on this same subject.

Among the preparatory signs of the coming of Anti-Christ we have Communism, which is destined to spread. In Europe it will unsettle every throne but one that is, Israel, England. We fear that neither the Church nor State comprehend the terrible power that is thus quietly organising in this and other lands. It is this uprising of the Communists and intriguing of the Jesuits in our own land, that will call General Grant once more to the front, as we pointed out to you months ago. The recent European Congress resulted in patching up a temporary peace between Russia, England, and Turkey. A place will be provided for the Duke of Edinburgh, who, having married the Czar’s daughter, will enable the two Powers to agree. He may not be the first prince, still he and his seed are to find a kingdom in that place. Russia will be willing for England to have Constantinople, and exercise a provisional protectorate over Turkey, with a view of strengthening his daughter’s chances. England will thus come peaceably in possession of Palestine.

Germany, being tied to both the Russian and English thrones by blood and marriage, will also freely consent. Besides, Germany is going to pass through a severe trial. The old Emperor will soon die, and also Bismarck, then a new prince will advise the new king, new counsel, and new blood, near and on the throne. Germany will become a prey to internal strife, fanned by the discontented Catholics of the Empire, that number some 15,000,000, and weakened by the Communistic elements. Not much longer can Germany bear the strain of her immense army and enormous taxes in consequence.

Russia also will have all she can do to stay the desire for reform, and the claims of the Nihilists or Communists. Thus will Providence prepare His people’s way back to Palestine.

If God promises once He does so fifty times, that He will restore Israel and Judah to their own land. To this one thing all Providence is concentrating, and this is the key that unseals prophecy and Providence. “And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them as at the first” (Jer. xxxii. They will form a free province, electing their own rulers and governors. They will be quite democratic, doing away with all titles, being the children of the Lord. “And the nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them” (Jer. xx; or, as stated by Isaiah, chap, i, verse 26, “And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.” Thus they will be a free province, managing their own affairs under the patronage and protection of England. Now it is this freedom that will open the door and prepare the way for Anti-Christ. He will be elected governor because of his supposed superiority in manners, science, and benevolence. He will appear as a lamb at first, according to John, but once in power his true character will appear. He will be a great scientist, and in the eyes and faith of the multitude He will be able to work miracles to bring, scientifically, fire down from heaven. So clever will he be that he will deceive some of the very elect.

Before his election he will have been a man of great power and influence. Once in power he will contrive to centre all power and interests in himself. He will pander to the Communists to the Romish Church to the scientific infidels of the day. In this feature he will draw heavily upon the Germans, and create quite a sympathy in England and this country. “For some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white even to the time of the end” (Dan. x.

The Scriptures having pointed out the special features of his character, we see that many of these features are already in the world. This is Anti-Christ. This is the spirit of Anti-Christ. And when God withdraws His restraining power, Anti-Christ will embody all these forces and characteristics in himself. And all men having these features, will sympathise with him, and aid him. God alone is now keeping back and down this spirit of Anti-Christ until His own chosen time. “And now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time; for the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way (that is, till God withdraws Himself), and then shall that wicked be revealed.”

Anti-Christ means one opposed to Christ. Also it means one opposed to Christ, and yet desires to be Christ who wishes to be received as Christ. And when the time comes, he will be received by many. The Jews will be looking for, and expecting the coming of, their Messiah, hence many of these will be deceived. Many radical Adventists and Millenarians will accept him, because they are in haste in their expectations: many of these will follow him. Indeed, the whole world seems ripe to furnish him a quota. But who will he be? Answer: He will be a French Jew, who will intermarry into the Bonaparte family. His title will be Napoleon I. of Palestine. This word Napoleon, resolved into Greek equivalents, is equal to Apollyon, and as a number stands for 666. “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” (Rev. vii.

Christ, when warning the Jews of Anti-Christ, said, “I am come in My Father’s name, and ye receive Me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” Here, and in other discourses, we have to content ourselves at many points with mere statements, for to defend every point would take too long a time, and would not suit our purpose. It is our desire in all these discourses to incite you to study, to teach you to examine for yourselves; to prepare you against being unduly led away by Adventism, Communism, or Infidelity; to give you an interest in Providence and history. Do you ask if any will be led away by such a false pretender? We answer, Yes unless humanity undergoes some radical change. Take a few instances:

Our Shaker friends believed in Mother Ann Lee. This woman in 1770, while living in Manchester, England, pretended to have a special revelation from Heaven, making known unto her that she was the female side of Christ as Jesus was the revelation of the male side. As Eve was taken out of Adam, the female principle separated from the male, so she was separated from Christ. This, and much that is curious, do these sincere, honest, and industrious people believe.

Take another example, nearer home, and of which some of you are cognizant, having known the pretender and many of his duped followers. We refer to Matthias, the prophet of Westchester County. This pretended lord began his labours in Albany, N.Y., in 1830. First he taught himself to be God’s high priest, then the Saviour, then he claimed to be God. On being asked where he was from, he would answer: “I am a traveller, and my legal residence is Zion Hill, Westchester County, New York State. I am a Jewish teacher and priest of the Most High God, saying and doing all that I do, under oath, by virtue of my having subscribed to all the covenants that God hath made with man from the beginning up to this time. I am chief high priest of the Jews of the Order of Melchizedec, being the last chosen of the twelve apostles, and the first in the resurrection which is at the end of 2,300 years from the birth of Mahommed, which terminates in 1830. I am now denouncing judgment on the Gentiles, and that judgment is to be executed in this age.”

He appeared in fine pontifical robes, with a rule six feet long in his right hand; with this he was to measure off God’s holy city. In his left hand he had a two-edged sword. Underneath his pontifical robe he had a rich olive broadcloth cloak, lined and faced with silk and velvet; besides, he wore a brown frock coat, with several stars on each breast, with a splendid gold star on the left. His belt was of white cloth, fastened by a golden clasp, and surmounted with an eagle. He wore a cocked hat of black beaver, trimmed with green, the rear angle being surmounted by the golden symbol of glory.

He moved from Albany to New York, and here succeeded most wonderfully, winning over some of the finest families of Fifth Avenue, and the richest and best merchants of this city. His followers furnished him with plenty of money, carriages, a mansion in the city, and one in the country. Finally he was accused and detected of the worst crimes, and at last was sent to Sing Sing. While in jail he issued the following proclamation: “As I live, there shall be no more sowing in the earth until I, the twelfth and last of the apostles, am delivered out of the house of bondage.” For fear of this proclamation many of the farmers refused to sow, and they set to work to deliver him, and succeeded. He left the jail, and may be living yet to read what we now state to you.

It is really wonderful how easily men are deceived in religious matters. Let us study the Word, ask God’s guidance in knowing and doing His will. Time is gone. I have said but little, much more might be said. In my next discourse I will introduce you to two old men who will visit Anti-Christ.