Chapter 3: The National Sunday Law
What does the Bible say about the homage that Protestant America will
pay to the Roman Catholic power?
Revelation 13: 11-17- "Then I saw another beast, coming out
of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised
all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its
inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he
performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven
to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on
behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.
"He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was
wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image
of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause wall who refused to worship the
image to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free
and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no on
could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the
number of his name.
When will this prophecy be fulfilled?
"The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented
by the beast with lamblike horns shall cause 'the earth and them which dwell therein'
to worship the papacy--there symbolized by the beast 'like unto a leopard.'...This
prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance,
which Rome claims as the special acknowledgement of her supremacy" (GC 578, 579).
"The enforcement of Sundaykeeping on the part of Protestant churches is
an enforcement of the worship of the papacy" (ibid. 448, 449).
Where will the pressure for Sunday legislation come from?
"The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade,
or compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be
supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love of
justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators,
in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law
enforcing Sunday observance" (ibid. 592 [see also 4SP 410]).
"To secure popularity and patronage, legislators will yield to the
demand for a Sunday law" (5T 451).
"Legislators will yield to the demand for Sunday laws" (PK 606).
"The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching
their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach
over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of
this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling
on the rights of conscience" (GC 588).
"If the people can be led to favor a Sunday law, then the clergy intend
to exert their united influence to obtain a religious amendment to the
Constitution, and compel the nation to keep Sunday: (RH Extra Dec. 24,
1889).
Do these Sunday-law advocates realize what they are doing?
"There are many, even of those engaged in
this movement for Sunday enforcement, who are blinded to the results which
will follow this action. They do not see that they are striking directly
against religious liberty. There are many who have never understood the
claims of the Bible Sabbath and the false foundation upon which the Sunday
institution rests" ( 5T 711).
"They are working in blindness. They do not see that if a
Protestant government sacrifices the principles that have made them a free,
independent nation, and through legislation brings into the Constitution
principles that will propagate papal falsehood and papal delusion, they
are plunging into the Roman horrors of the Dark Ages" (RH Extra Dec. 11,
1888).
"There is a satanic force propelling the Sunday movement, but
it is concealed. Even the men who are engaged in the work, are themselves
blinded to the results which will follow their movement" (RH Jan. 1, 1889;
7BC 975).
Who actually is the chief mastermind of Sunday legislation?
"Not a move has been made in exalting the idol sabbath, in
bringing around Sunday observance through legislation, but Satan has been
behind it, and has been the chief worker" (7BC 977).
"When the legislature frames laws which exalt the first day of
the week, and put it in the place of the seventh day, the device of Satan
will be perfected" (ibid. 976).
Upon whom does a Sunday law cast contempt?
"A more decided effort will be made to exalt the false
sabbath, and to cast contempt upon God himself by supplanting the day He has
blessed and sanctified" (ibid.).
Are we to expect Sunday laws in certain states only, or
will the United States Congress take legislative action?
"Our land is in jeopardy. The time is drawing on when
its legislators shall so abjure the principles of Protestantism as to give
countenance to Romish apostasy. The people for whom God has so marvelously
wrought, strengthening them to throw off the galling yoke of popery, will
by a national act give vigor to the corrupt faith of Rome, and thus arrouse
the tyranny which only waits for a touch to start again into cruelty and
depotism" (4SP 410 [1884]; ST July 4, 1899).
"We see that efforts are being made to restrict our religious
liberties. The Sunday question is now assuming large proportions. An
amendment to our Constitution is being urged in Congress, and when it is
obtained, oppression must follow" (RH Dec. 18, 1888 [see also 5T 711]).
"There is soon to open before us a period of overwhelming
interest to all living. The controversies of the past are to be revived;
new controversies will arise. The scenes to be enacted in our world are
not yet even dreamed of. Satan is at work through human agencies. Those
who are making an effort to change the Constitution and secure a law
enforcing Sunday observance little realize what will be the result. A
crisis is just upon us" (5T 753).
"When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its
government as to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism wil in this act join
hands with popery" (ibid. 712).
"A great crisis awaits the people of God. Very soon our
nation will attempt to enforce upon all the observance of the first day
of the week as a sacred day. In doing this, they will not scruple to
compel men against the voice of their own conscience to observe the day
the nation declares to be the Sabbath" (RH Extra Dec. 11, 1888).
"When the law of God has been made void, and apostasy
becomes a national sin, the Lord will work in behalf of His people"
(ibid. Dec. 24, 1889).
"By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy
in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully
from righteousness" (5T 451).
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