Article February 27, 1943 Issue

The Vision of St. John and the Present War Crisis

PERRY H. RADCLIFFE

As described in Revelation, John beheld "a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads." This dragon was of such proportions that its tail caused a blackout of a third part of the stars of heaven. A horn has sometimes been regarded as a weapon of offense; a crown is a token of power. Taken together they symbolize the belief that power is obtained through material force. The dragon with ten horns may indicate for us today the false assumption that the Ten Commandments can be totally disregarded and a "new order" established for society which shall include no moral restraint upon those who through force of arms have conquered and subjugated their fellow men. On page 563 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy explains that "this dragon stands for the sum total of human error." She further says, "The ten horns of the dragon typify the belief that matter has power of its own, and that by means of an evil mind in matter the Ten Commandments can be broken."

The red dragon stands for anti-Christ, the antipode of Christianity, the direct opposite of everything taught by the Master. It is this monstrous anti-Christian lie which today is attempting to engulf humanity in a surging flood of paganistic propaganda, and by acts of terrorism and aggression to gain control over the world.

Part of the beloved apostle's vision above described is now being brought to pass, and the complete picture will be fulfilled in human experience when the world is ready for progress and learns through Christian Science how to overcome the belief in and fear of evil. John, in foretelling the salvation of all men, foresaw the end of the dragon—slain "by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." "The blood of the Lamb" annihilates falsehood and error. "The word of their testimony" is the proof that Truth is being understood, and therefore that the rights of man in God's image are being recognized and demonstrated.

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