the papacy exalt itself above God； whoever should understandingly keep the
law as thus changed would be giving supreme honor to that power by which the
change was made。 Such an act of obedience to papal laws would be a mark of
allegiance to the pope in the place of God。
The papacy has attempted to change the law of God。 The second commandment；
forbidding image worship； has been dropped from the law； and the fourth
commandment has been so changed as to authorize the observance of the first
instead of the seventh day as the Sabbath。 But papists urge； as a reason for
omitting the second commandment； that it is unnecessary； being included in
the first； and that they are giving the law exactly as God designed it to be
understood。 This cannot be the change foretold by the prophet。 An
intentional； deliberate change is presented： 〃He shall think to change the
times and the law。〃 The change in the fourth commandment exactly fulfills
the prophecy。 For this the only authority claimed is that of the church。
Here the papal power openly sets itself above God。
While the worshipers of God will be especially distinguished by their regard
for the fourth commandments；since this is the sign of His creative power
and the witness to His claim upon man's reverence and homage；the
worshipers of the beast will be distinguished by their efforts to tear down
the Creator's memorial； to exalt the institution of Rome。 It was in behalf
of the Sunday that popery first asserted its
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arrogant claims （see Appendix）； and its first resort to the power of the
state was to compel the observance of Sunday as 〃the Lord's day。〃 But the
Bible points to the seventh day； and not to the first； as the Lord's day。
Said Christ： 〃The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath。〃 The fourth
commandment declares： 〃The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord。〃 And by
the prophet Isaiah the Lord designates it： 〃My holy day。〃 Mark 2：28； Isaiah
58：13。
The claim so often put forth that Christ changed the Sabbath is disproved by
His own words。 In His Sermon on the Mount He said： 〃Think not that I am come
to destroy the law； or the prophets： I am not come to destroy； but to
fulfill。 For verily I say unto you； Till heaven and earth pass； one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law； till all be fulfilled。
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments； and shall
teach men so； he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven： but
whosoever shall do and teach them； the same shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven；〃 Matthew 5：17…19。
It is a fact generally admitted by Protestants that the Scriptures give no
authority for the change of the Sabbath。 This is plainly stated in
publications issued by the American Tract Society and the American Sunday
School Union。 One of these works acknowledges 〃the complete silence of the
New Testament so far as any explicit command for the Sabbath ＇Sunday； the
first day of the week＇ or definite rules for its observance are
concerned。〃George Elliott； The Abiding Sabbath； page 184。
Another says： 〃Up to the time of Christ's death； no change had been made in
the day；〃 and； 〃so far as the record shows； they ＇the apostles＇ did not 。 。
。 give any explicit command enjoining the abandonment of the seventh…day
Sabbath； and its observance on the first day of the week。〃A。 E。 Waffle；
The Lord's Day； pages 186…188。
Roman Catholics acknowledge that the change of the Sabbath was made by their
church； and declare that Protestants
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by observing the Sunday are recognizing her power。 In the Catholic Catechism
of Christian Religion； in answer to a question as to the day to be observed
in obedience to the fourth commandment； this statement is made： 〃During the
old law； Saturday was the day sanctified； but the church； instructed by
Jesus Christ； and directed by the Spirit of God； has substituted Sunday for
Saturday； so now we sanctify the first； not the seventh day。 Sunday means；
and now is； the day of the Lord。〃
As the sign of the authority of the Catholic Church； papist writers cite
〃the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday； which Protestants allow
of； 。 。 。 because by keeping Sunday； they acknowledge the church's power to
ordain feasts； and to command them under sin。〃Henry Tuberville； An
Abridgment of the Christian Doctrine； page 58。 What then is the change of
the Sabbath； but the sign； or mark； of the authority of the Roman
Church〃the mark of the beast〃？
The Roman Church has not relinquished her claim to supremacy； and when the
world and the Protestant churches accept a sabbath of her creating； while
they reject the Bible Sabbath； they virtually admit this assumption。 They
may claim the authority of tradition and of the Fathers for the change； but
in so doing they ignore the very principle which separates them from
Romethat 〃the Bible； and the Bible only； is the religion of Protestants。〃
The papist can see that they are deceiving themselves； willingly closing
their eyes to the facts in the case。 As the movement for Sunday enforcement
gains favor； he rejoices； feeling assured that it will eventually bring the
whole Protestant world under the banner of Rome。
Romanists declare that 〃the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an
homage they pay； in spite of themselves； to the authority of the ＇Catholic＇
Church。〃Mgr。 Segur； Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today； page 213。
The enforcement of Sundaykeeping on the part of Protestant churches is an
enforcement of the worship of the papacyof the beast。 Those who；
understanding the claims of the fourth
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commandment； choose to observe the false instead of the true Sabbath are
thereby paying homage to that power by which alone it is commanded。 But in
the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power； the churches
would themselves form an image to the beast； hence the enforcement of
Sundaykeeping in the United States would be an enforcement of the worship of
the beast and his image。
But Christians of past generations observed the Sunday； supposing that in so
doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath； and there are now true Christians
in every church； not excepting the Roman Catholic communion； who honestly
believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment。 God accepts their
sincerity of purpose and their integrity before Him。 But when Sunday
observance shall be enforced by law； and the world shall be enlightened
concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath； then whoever shall transgress
the command of God； to obey a precept which has no higher authority than
that of Rome； will thereby honor popery above God。 He is paying homage to
Rome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome。 He is
worshipping the beast and his image。 As men then reject the institution
which God has declared to be the sign of His authority； and honor in its
stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy； they will
thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome〃the mark of the beast。〃 And
it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people； and they
are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments
of men； that those who continue in transgression will receive 〃the mark of
the beast。〃
The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals is contained in the
third angel's message。 That must be a terrible sin which calls down the
wrath of God unmingled with mercy。 Men are not to be left in darkness
concerning this important matter； the warning against this sin is to be
given to the world before the visitation of God's judgments； that all may
know why they are to be inflicted； and have
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opportunity to escape them。 Prophecy declares that the first angel would
make his announcement to 〃every nation； and kindred； and tongue； and
people。〃 The warning of the third angel； which forms a part of the same
threefold message； is to be no less widespread。 It is represented in the
prophecy as being proclaimed with a loud voice； by an angel flying in the
midst of heaven； and it will command the attention of the world。
In the issue of the contest all Christendom will be divided into two great
classesthose who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus； and
those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark。 Although
church and state will unite their power to compel 〃all； both small and
great； rich and poor； free and bond〃 （Revelation 13：16）； to receive 〃the
mark of the beast；〃 yet the people of God will not receive it。 The prophet
of Patmos beholds 〃them that had gotten the victory over the beast； and over
his image； and over his mark； and over the number of his name； stand on the
sea of glass； having the harps of God〃 and singing the song of Moses and the
Lamb。 Revelation 15：2； 3。
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Chapter 26
A Work of Reform
The work of Sabbath reform to be accomplished in the last days