Lesson 6

2.What was represented by this head?
3.When was the Papacy led into captivity?
4.What was then seen to be coming up? .
5.What were the special characteristics of this beast?
6.What nation alone, with the gentle appearance mentioned, was coming up in 1798? Ans. The United States.
7.How much power does he exercise? , first part.
8.What power was exercised by the preceding beast?
9.What was the two-horned beast to cause, by the exercise of his power? , last part.
10.How was he to cause this worship? , last part especially.
11.What has been the chief characteristic of the Papacy? Ans. A union of Church and State, or a religious element dominating the civil power, to further its own ends.
12.At what time was that union formed which developed the Papacy? Ans. During the reign of Constantine, A. D. 312-337.
13.How was that union effected? . See also note A.
14.What was sure to result from such a union? .
15.When and by whom was the great Council of Nice convened? Ans. In A. D. 325, by the Emperor Constantine.
16.What was one of the principal objects in calling that council? See note B.
17.What did the emperor wish to have settled concerning Easter? Note C.
18.How was the matter decided? Note D.
19.Under what authority were the decrees of the council published? Ans. Under the authority of the emperor, which gave them a political importance. (Neander's History, vol. 2, p. 133.)
20.With what power is the two-horned beast able to invest the image it is to make? .
21.What decree is it to make, in order to cause all to worship the image? .

Notes

Note A.—In the time of Constantine, the bishops of the church became worldly-minded, and, instead of caring for the salvation of their flocks, were often too much inclined to entangle themselves in secular concerns. They held what was called the theocratical theory, which means that God directly rules in the nations of the earth. This belief made them quite willing to allow the emperor to dictate in matters concerning the church, and the bishops "voluntarily made themselves dependent on him by their disputes, and by their determination to make use of the power of the State for the furtherance of their aims." See "Neander's History of the Christian Religion and Church," vol. 2, pp. 16 and 132.

Note B.—"The question relating to the observance of Easter, which was agitated in the time of Anicetus and Polycarp, and afterward in that of Victor, was still undecided. It was one of the principal reasons for convoking the Council of Nice, being the most important subject to be considered, after the Arian controversy."—Boyle's Historical View of the Council of Nice, p. 2, ed. 1839.

Note C.—"It appears that the churches of Syria and Mesopotamia continued to follow the custom of the Jews, and celebrated Easter on the 14th day of the moon, whether falling on Sunday or not. All the other churches observed that solemnity on Sunday only, viz., those of Rome, Italy, Africa, Lydia, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, and Britain."—Boyle's Council of Nice, p. 22.

Note D.—"Easter day was fixed on Sunday immediately following the new moon which was nearest after the vernal equinox."—Boyle's Council of Nice, p. 23.

Bible texts in this lesson

Revelation 13:11 · Revelation 13:12 · Revelation 13:14 · 2 Thessalonians 2:3 · 2 Thessalonians 2:4 · Revelation 13:15 · Revelation 13:15-17

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