2. THE NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW The national Sunday law is one of the five landmark events of the last days. They are as follows: (1) The beginning of the investigative judgment in 1844, as Jesus and the Father pass from the first to second apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary to begin the final atonement. (2) The national Sunday law, which marks the setting up of the image to the beast, and the start of several other events which we will soon discuss, which include the marking and sealing, the passing of the investigative judgment to the cases of the living, the blotting out experience, the marriage, the latter rain, and loud cry. (3) The general close of probation, when the four winds are loosed and the plagues begin to fall. (4) The sounding of the Voice of God, which delivers God’s people from the oppressive power of the world. (5) The second advent of Jesus Christ, at which time His faithful ones are taken to heaven, the wicked are slain, and Satan is bound to this planet for a thousand years. The national Sunday law is especially important, for it jump-starts so many crucial final events. − Part 1− THE NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW - 1 - IMPORTANCE OF THIS EVENT 1 - This is a subject that we need to understand. “The fearful judgments denounced against the worship of the beast and his image, should lead all to a 12END OF TIME SERIES diligent study of the prophecies to learn what the mark of the beast is, and how they are to avoid receiving It.” -Great Controversy, 594:2. 2 - The Sunday law is inevitable. “Sooner or later Sunday laws will be passed.” -Last Day Events, 128:4. THE OBJECTIVE 1 - A national act. “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 arouse the tyranny which only waits for a touch to start again into cruelty and despotism.” -4 Spirit of Prophecy, 410. 2 - A law. “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. This false Sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law. “-7 Bible Commentary, 985. 3 - A decree. “By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness.” -5 Testimonies, 451. 4 - An amendment to the Constitution. “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.” – Review Extra, December 18, 1888. 5 - A religious amendment to the Constitution. “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.” -Review Extra, December 24, 1889. IT WILL DESTROY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 1 - It will bring religious liberty to an end. “The law of God, through the agency of Satan, is to be made void. In our land of boasted freedom religious liberty will come to an end. The contest will be decided over the Sabbath question, which will agitate the whole world.” Evangelism, 296:9. 2 - It will revive tyranny. “Protestants will throw their whole Influence and strength on the side of the Papacy. By a national act enforcing the false Sabbath they will give life and vigor to the corrupt faith of Rome, reviving her tyranny and oppression of conscience.” -Maranatha, 179:2. 3 - Men will be compelled to obey. “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.” −Last Day Events, 144.2. 13END OF TIME SERIES SABBATHKEEPERS WILL BE OPPOSED AND HATED 1 - The faithful will fight the battle against great national powers. “Seventh-day Adventists will fight the battle over the seventh-day Sabbath. The authorities in the United States and in other countries will rise up in their pride and power and make laws to restrict religious liberty.” -Last Day Events, 144.3. 2 - They will be hated for their position. “Soon the Sunday laws will be enforced, and men In positions of trust will be embittered against the little handful of God’s commandment-keeping people.”-4 Manuscript Releases, 278. - 2 - THE TIMING OF THE NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW It is not possible to set a date for the occurrence of this event, nor to determine time spans leading to or away from it. There will be no tracing of definite time after 1844 (7BC 971) for time-setting is not a test after 1844 (EW 75; 2SM 73; 1T 409). See our tract study, Its No Time for Time Excitement [PG-21}, for many quotations on this. -3 − LAMBLIKE BEAST INSTITUTES NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW The Lamblike beast of Revelation 13 represents a persecuting power (TM 117). It symbolizes Protestant America (GC 445), and the United States of America (GC 440-44’1, 445; SR 381-2). This beast will make Sunday observance the test, and, in so doing, will enforce the worship of the papacy (GC 445). The symbol of the lamblike beast “which speaks as a dragon” will not apply to the U.S. until the national Sunday law9is enacted. 1 - U.S. enactment of the Sunday law will produce (1) an image to the beast, (2) the worship of the papacy, and (3) begin the placement of the mark. “The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented by the beast with Iamblike horns shall cause ‘the earth and them which dwell therein’ to worship the papacy −there symbolized by the beast ‘like unto a leopard.’ The beast with two horns is also to say ‘to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an Image to the beast;’ and, furthermore, it is to command all, ‘both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,’ to receive ‘the mark of the beast.’ It has been shown that the United States Is the power represented by the beast with Iamblike 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 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.” -Great Controversy, 578:9579:0. - 4 - ENACTMENT OF THE NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW BRINGS WORSHIP OF THE LEOPARD BEAST The Leopard like beast of Revelation 13 represents the papacy (GC 443, 445). This beast is worshiped in the act of violating God’s law by keeping Sunday sacred (TM 133). Efforts to tear down Sabbath observance distinguish the worship of the beast (GC 446). A decree will be made enforcing the worship of the beast (5T 525). Enforcement of Sunday observance will be equivalent to worshiping the beast (GC 448-9). This worship will be enforced on pain of persecution and death (5T 752). 1 - The decree will require the worship of the beast. “The decree shall go forth requiring all to worship the beast and his image.” -5 Testimonies, 525:2. 2 - That first beast is the papacy. 14END OF TIME SERIES “In (Revelation] chapter 13 (verses 1-10) is described another beast, ‘like unto a leopard’, to which the dragon gave ‘his power, and his seat, and great authority.’ This symbol, as most Protestants have believed, represents the papacy, which succeeded to the power and seat and authority once held by the ancient Roman empire . . This prophecy, which is nearly Identical with the description of the little horn of Daniel.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 16:29:15 +0000
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