Abyssinia was soon beguiled into an acknowledgment of the pope as the vicar
of Christ。 Other concessions followed。
578
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。
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。〃 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；
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furthermore； it is to command all； 〃both small and great； rich and poor；
free and bond；〃 to receive the mark of the beast。 Revelation 13：11…16。 It
has been shown 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 it
were wounded to death； and his deadly wound was healed： and all the world
wondered after 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 wondered after 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 that dwell upon the earth shall worship him； whose names
are not 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
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Sunday…sabbath； will be repeated； already it is beginning to be urged。 And a
movement to enforce Sunday observance is fast gaining ground。
Marvelous in her shrewdness and cunning is the Roman Church。 She can read
what is to be。 She bides her time； seeing that the Protestant churches are
paying her homage in their acceptance of the false sabbath and that they are
preparing to enforce it by the very means which she herself employed in
bygone days。 Those who reject the light of truth will yet seek the aid of
this self…styled infallible power to exalt an institution that originated
with her。 How readily she will come to the help of Protestants in this work
it is not difficult to conjecture。 Who understands better than the papal
leaders how to deal with those who are disobedient to the church？
The Roman Catholic Church； with all its ramifications throughout the world；
forms one vast organization under the control； and designed to serve the
interests； of the papal see。 Its millions of communicants； in every country
on the globe； are instructed to hold themselves as bound in allegiance to
the pope。 Whatever their nationality or their government； they are to regard
the authority of the church as above all other。 Though they may take the
oath pledging their loyalty to the state； yet back of this lies the vow of
obedience to Rome； absolving them from every pledge inimical to her
interests。
History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself
into the affairs of nations； and having gained a foothold； to further her
own aims； even at the ruin of princes and people。 In the year 1204； Pope
Innocent III extracted from Peter II； king of Arragon； the following
extraordinary oath： 〃I； Peter； king of Arragonians； profess and promise to
be ever faithful and obedient to my lord； Pope Innocent； to his Catholic
successors； and the Roman Church； and faithfully to preserve my kingdom in
his obedience； defending the Catholic faith； and persecuting heretical
pravity。〃 John Dowling； The History of Romanism； b。 5； ch。 6； sec。
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55。 This is in harmony with the claims regarding the power
of the Roman pontiff 〃that it is lawful for him to depose emperors〃 and
〃that he can absolve subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous
rulers。〃Mosheim； b。 3； cent。 11； pt。 2； ch。 2； sec。 9； note 17。 （See also
Appendix。）
And let it be remembered； it is the boast of Rome that she never changes。
The principles of Gregory VII and Innocent III are still the principles of
the Roman Catholic Church。 And had she but the power； she would put them in
practice with as much vigor now as in past centuries。 Protestants little
know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the
work of Sunday exaltation。 While they are bent upon the accomplishment of
their purpose； Rome is aiming to re…establish her power； to recover her lost
supremacy。 Let the principle once be established in the United States that
the church may employ or control the power of the state； that religious
observances may be enforced by secular laws； in short； that the authority of
church and state is to dominate the conscience； and the triumph of Rome in
this country is assured。
God's word has given warning of the impending danger； let this be unheeded；
and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are；
only when it is too late to escape the snare。 She is silently growing into
power。 Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls； in
the churches； and in the hearts of men。 She is piling up her lofty and
massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions
will be repeated。 Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her
forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike。
All that she desires is vantage ground； and this is already being given her。
We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is。
Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach
and persecution。
（582）
Chapter 36
The Impending Conflict
From the very beginning of the great controversy in heaven it has been
Satan's purpose to overthrow the law of God。 It was to accomplish this that
he entered upon his rebellion against the Creator； and though he was cast
out of heaven he has continued the same warfare upon the earth。 To deceive
men； and thus lead them to transgress God's law； is the object which he has
steadfastly pursued。 Whether this be accomplished by casting aside the law
altogether； or by rejecting one of its precepts； the result will be
ultimately the same。 He that offends 〃in one point；〃 manifests contempt for
the whole law； his influence and example are on the side of transgression；
he becomes 〃guilty of all。〃 James 2：10。
In seeking to cast contem