Jon Pauline is a professor of religion at Loma Linda University. He was a professor at Andrews University for 20 years and previously served as dean of the Loma Linda University School of Religion. He also runs a Facebook page called Armageddon Headquarters, where he offers insights about the Book of Revelation.
In a series of posts that were published from March 5–7, 2025, Jon Pauline spoke about the uncertainty and ambiguity surrounding the interpretation of the image of the beast. Pauline expressed the following:
• “The phrase in this verse is not the image ‘of’ the beast, it is the image ‘to’ the beast. The linking word between image and beast is not genitive but rather dative. This is an image ‘to’ the beast. What is stressed here is not so much that the image looks like the beast, but that it functions ‘for’ the beast (ESV, NRSV), ‘in honor of’ the beast (NIV). What is stressed here is that, like the land beast, the image is a new entity that acts in behalf of the sea beast.” [1]
• “The image to the beast does not seem to be the same as either the sea or the land beast. It is a new player in the drama that looks like the sea beast. But there is little information in the text by way of introduction or identification, which is unusual for John.” [2]
• “If the concept of the image of the beast is played out later on in the book, there are four main possibilities; all of them centered in chapter 17. The most obvious possibility is the scarlet beast of that chapter. That beast looks just like the sea beast with its seven heads and ten horns (Rev 13:1-2; 17:3), but is also clearly different: it is not religious in the same sense as the sea beast was or the woman of chapter 17 is (see notes on 17:4-5). In Revelation 17 the beast is associated with an “eighth” (17:11) which is the end-time union of all political and military power in service to end-time Babylon (the woman who rides the beast– 17:7). If the beast of Revelation 17 is the ‘image to the beast’ the land beast uses its political clout to develop an end-time ‘united nations’ that serves the worldwide union of religious institutions for a short time and then destroys it.” [3]
This is not the first time that Jon Pauline has placed doubts on our long-held prophetic views. A few years ago, Pauline tried to revise our understanding about Sunday being the mark of the beast, the accuracy of the book The Great Controversy, and Ellen White’s role as an end-time prophet. [4]
It is profoundly dangerous for any Seventh-day Adventist to ignore clearly established teachings and entertain alternative interpretations because this only weakens the sure word of prophecy and creates doubt about our historical positions. We have been entrusted with a distinct prophetic message, grounded in Scripture and affirmed through the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy.
Whenever we deviate from these foundations, we open the door to skepticism, unbelief, ecumenism, and the erosion of our identity as God’s remnant people. This is not merely an academic issue—it is a matter of eternal consequence.
Seventh-day Adventists have always interpreted the “image of the beast” in Revelation 13:14-15 as a future apostate Protestant political system in the United States that will enforce laws compelling false worship. This understanding has never been in doubt, until recently. The image applies to a coming union of apostate Protestantism with state power, mirroring the authority of the papacy in medieval times. Adventists have always believed that this “image” will result in the enforcement of Sunday worship through civil legislation, in opposition to God’s biblical Sabbath—Saturday.
J.N. Andrews was one of the principal leaders of the church, a Bible scholar, a prolific writer, and a major contributor to the formation of our mission, and he unequivocally applied the interpretation of the image of the beast to the fallen Protestant churches.
• “Finally, after having defined ‘the beast’ and ‘the two horned beast,’ Andrews interpreted ‘the image of the beast’ (Rev. 13:14, 15). On the basis of his previous interpretation that the ‘beast was, in truth, a church clothed with civil power and authority by which it put to death the saints of God’ (Rev. 13:5-8; Daniel 7:23-26), he drew the conclusion that ‘an image to the beast then must be another church clothed with civil power and authority to put the saints of God to death.’ This, Andrews said, could be ‘nothing else but the corrupt and fallen Protestant church‘ (Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission, p. 204).
John N. Loughborough was another early Seventh-day Adventist minister and leader and applied the image of the beast to the churches in the United States that passed laws to impose their religion.
• Loughborough further elaborated the concept of the image of the beast. Focusing on the Church-State relationship, he stated that ‘all that is wanting to complete an image to Papacy, is simply a union of action in Church and State, and for the churches to have control of the laws so as to inflict penalties on heretics, or those who do not obey their sentiments.’ He predicted that ‘were the United States as a body to pass a law that Sunday should be kept holy, or not profaned by labor, there would be, I conceive, an image to Papacy; for law would then be in the hand of the church, and she could inflict penalties on those who did not obey the Sunday institution’.” (Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission, p. 205).
Ellen White, founder and prophet in the Seventh-day Adventist church, clearly stated that the image of the beast in Revelation 13 is a future union of apostate Protestant churches with civil government in the United States, enforcing religious laws.
• “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 … The ‘image to the beast’ represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas” (Great Controversy, p. 445).
Why can’t we just say what God says about the image of the beast? Many pastors and leaders today refuse to identify the beast, the image, or the mark because they fear alienating the ecumenical movement and being perceived as odd or extreme. In an age where religious unity is valued over biblical truth, they shrink from proclaiming the straight testimony that God has given His remnant church. This reluctance is not merely an issue of preference—it is a betrayal of the sacred trust entrusted to them as watchmen on the walls of Zion.
The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy are clear about the coming crisis, and silence on this matter leaves souls unprepared for the final test. To avoid preaching these vital truths for fear of offending others is to place human opinion above divine revelation. God’s true ministers must stand firm, declaring His prophetic word without apology. Failure to do so means leading souls into deception rather than into the preparation they need for what is about to burst upon the world as an overwhelming surprise.
“The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands his servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world. They cannot remain silent, except at the peril of their souls. Christ’s ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty, and leave results with God” (Great Controversy, p. 609).
Sources
[1] https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AZWi3AhaS/
[2] https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15qBk4sXfe/
[3] https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B93dPnazZ/
0
0
0
The Omega of apostasy!
“The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.
Who has authority to begin such a movement? We have our Bibles. We have our experience, attested to by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. We have a truth that admits of no compromise. Shall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with this truth?
I hesitated and delayed about the sending out of that which the Spirit of the Lord impelled me to write. I did not want to be compelled to present the misleading influence of these sophistries. But in the providence of God, the errors that have been coming in must be met. 1SM 204.2 – 1 Selected Messages 205.2
Andy, thank you for the important and timely information that can always be found on your website!
The first country where this message is to be proclaimed is USA. However some prominent figures in the Historic Adventtisme deem more important to talk about Islamic extremism or China’s communism. Also they focus on the corruption within the church administration. We need to deal with the enemies of the Present Truth within and without the church. Momentous events are happening right before our eyes and they demand clear explanation in the context of the Bible end time Prophecy POTUS should understand what will be the final outcome of his actions individually and corporately on the global scale.
This is a tough one for many reasons, but here it is straight (and as simple as it can be for here). The sea beast of Revelation 13 and the red beast of Revelation 17 are one and the same. The sea beast doesn’t have the characteristics of the terrible beast (Rome) of Daniel 7 but is described as a composition of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece (Daniel 7:12 – their lives were prolonged for a period). This beast “once was, is not, but will be” has “one mind” like those at the Tower of Babel. This beast is the world government that will be established. There is a power who is “riding the beast” and calling for world governance and open borders…. The earth beast is the manifestation of Satan as Christ. Jesus foretells this in Matthew 24. It is interesting that in her description of Satan EGW uses the verses for the earth beast! Satan is Apollo the Sun god. His number is 666 and he presides over civil and religious law. Sunday sacredness is in his honor and the “one” world government is how he will implement his earthly control…. The pioneers did not have all spiritual understanding because events had not yet been revealed for them to have a clear understanding…. EGW talked of “new light” but it is likely SDAs will reject it because they are stuck in the tracks of the reformers.
Instead of applying censorship it would be better to run the website on secure platform and protect its content and visitors data. This is not a first time that my comment has been indiscriminately removed while waiting moderation. I would commend the Fulcrum but not the Advent Messenger for promoting the freedom of expression. Claiming to believe in 3 Angels Messages and practicing censorship is counter productive to say the least. That’s the reason why your comment section is void of activity. People simply can’t be bordered writing comments only to be removed by censorship aka moderation.