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Liberty of Conscience Threatened, Part 5
The Papacy Claims Change of the Sabbath
But notwithstanding all the efforts to
establish Sunday sacredness, papists themselves publicly confessed the divine
authority of the Sabbath and the human origin of the institution by which it had
been supplanted. In the sixteenth century a papal council plainly declared: “Let
all Christians remember that the seventh day was consecrated by God, and hath
been received and observed, not only by the Jews, but by all others who pretend
to worship God; though we Christians have changed their Sabbath into the Lord’s
Day.”—Ibid., pages 281, 282. Those who were
tampering with the divine law were not ignorant of the character of their work.
They were deliberately setting themselves above God.
A striking illustration of Rome’s policy
toward those who disagree with her was given in the long and bloody persecution
of the Waldenses, some of whom were observers of the Sabbath. Others suffered in
a similar manner for their fidelity to the fourth commandment. The history of
the churches of Ethiopia and Abyssinia is especially significant. Amid the gloom
of the Dark Ages, the Christians of Central Africa were lost sight of and
forgotten by the world, and for many centuries they enjoyed freedom in the
exercise of their faith. But at last Rome learned of their existence, and the
emperor of Abyssinia was soon beguiled into an acknowledgment of the pope as the
vicar of Christ. Other concessions followed. An edict was issued forbidding the
observance of the Sabbath under the severest penalties. (See Michael Geddes, Church History of Ethiopia, pages 311, 312.) But papal
tyranny soon became a yoke so galling that the Abyssinians determined to break
it from their necks. After a terrible struggle the Romanists were banished from
their dominions, and the ancient faith was restored. The churches rejoiced in
their freedom, and they never forgot the lesson they had learned concerning the
deception, the fanaticism, and the despotic power of Rome. Within their solitary
realm they were content to remain, unknown to the rest of Christendom.
The churches of Africa held the Sabbath as
it was held by the papal church before her complete apostasy. While they kept
the seventh day in obedience to the commandment of God, they abstained from
labor on the Sunday in conformity to the custom of the church. Upon obtaining
supreme power, Rome had trampled upon the Sabbath of God to exalt her own; but
the churches of Africa, hidden for nearly a thousand years, did not share in
this apostasy. When brought under the sway of Rome, they were forced to set
aside the true and exalt the false sabbath; but no sooner had they regained
their independence than they returned to obedience to the fourth commandment.
(See Appendix.)
These records of the past clearly reveal the
enmity of Rome toward the true Sabbath and its defenders, and the means which
she employs to honor the institution of her creating. The word of God teaches
that these scenes are to be repeated as Roman Catholics and Protestants shall
unite for the exaltation of the Sunday.
Protestant America in Bible Prophecy
The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that
the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns shall cause “the earth
and those who dwell in it” to worship the papacy—there symbolized by the beast
“like a leopard.” The beast with two horns is also to say [to] “those who dwell
on the earth to make an image to the beast;” and, furthermore, it is to command
all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave,” to receive the mark
of the beast. Revelation 13:11-16.
It has been shown [see The Great Controversy, pp.
439-442] that the United States is the power represented by the beast with
lamblike horns, and that this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States
shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgment
of her supremacy. But in this homage to the papacy the United States will not be
alone. The influence of Rome in the countries that once acknowledged her
dominion is still far from being destroyed. And prophecy foretells a restoration
of her power. “I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and
his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.”
Verse 3. The infliction of the
deadly wound points to the downfall of the papacy in 1798. After this, says the
prophet, “his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed
the beast.” Paul states plainly that the “man of sin” will continue until the
second advent. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8. To the very close of time he will carry
forward the work of deception. And the revelator declares, also referring to the
papacy: “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been
written in the Book of Life.” Revelation
13:8. In both the Old and the New World, the papacy will receive homage
in the honor paid to the Sunday institution, that rests solely upon the
authority of the Roman Church.
Since the middle of the nineteenth century,
students of prophecy in the United States have presented this testimony to the
world. In the events now taking place is seen a rapid advance toward the
fulfillment of the prediction. With Protestant teachers there is the same claim
of divine authority for Sundaykeeping, and the same lack of Scriptural evidence,
as with the papal leaders who fabricated miracles to supply the place of a
command from God. The assertion that God’s judgments are visited upon men for
their violation of the Sunday-sabbath, will be repeated; already it is beginning
to be urged. And a movement to enforce Sunday observance is fast gaining ground.
The Great
Controversy, pp. 577-580
Next part: Liberty of
Conscience Threatened, Part 6: Catholicism Gains Ground
All Scriptures are quoted from the New
King James Version, including those originally quoted by Ellen White from the
King James Version.—Editors
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