The general description of the two-horned beast, however, brings into prominence an evil characteristic--the disposition to lead people into deception by making an image to the beast and then worshiping it. The evil does not inhere in the work of bringing down "fire from heaven," but in image-making and image-worship, for which the Spiritual work simply furnished an occasion. The Spiritual work of reformation is therefore to be distinguished from the later work of creed- and sect-making. And since the beast takes advantage of Spirit manifestations, in order to deceive men, he becomes a sort of apostate and is denominated "the _false prophet_." See Chap. 16:14; 19:20. Ecclesiastically considered, the two-horned beast stands as the symbol of the religious system of Protestantism as a whole--a peculiar combination of truth and error, of good and bad, of "fire from heaven" and false, miracle-working power (chap. 16:14); while the "image to the beast" signifies the sectarian institution--the man-made, man-controlled, unscriptural sect machinery manufactured in imitation of the Papal original. To exalt such earth-born churches and lead people to adore and worship them is but a species of idolatry and the rankest deception. It is a sad fact that multitudes of people in Protestantism are more devoted to their particular church than they are to the Lord Jesus Christ. They can witness the open rejection of God's precious Word and the vilest profanation of his holy name, without uttering a word of protest; but let anyone say a word against _their church_, and instantly they are aroused to the highest pitch of excitement--beast-worshipers! The Protestant era has witnessed many wonderful reformations in which the true fire of God fell upon waiting souls, but this initial work of the Spirit has in each case been employed as an excuse for taking the next step--making an image. Thousands of honest souls, lacking better light, have been induced to submit to such human organization. But the truly saved have always loved and adored their Lord more than the human church to which they were attached, therefore they should not be regarded as beast-worshipers. They are the ones whom the Lord denominates his people when the voice is heard calling them out of Babylon. Chap. 18:4.