God’s Law Immutable
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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
worshiping 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 opportunity
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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 classes—those who keep the commandments of God and