Chapter 85—The Impending Conflict
A great crisis awaits the people of God. A crisis awaits the world.
The most momentous struggle of all the ages is just before us. Events
which for more than forty years we have upon the authority of the
prophetic word declared to be impending are now taking place before
our eyes. Already the question of an amendment to the Constitution
restricting liberty of conscience has been urged upon the legislators of
the nation. The question of enforcing Sunday observance has become
one of national interest and importance. We well know what the result
of this movement will be. But are we ready for the issue? Have we
faithfully discharged the duty which God has committed to us of giving
the people warning of the danger before them?
There are many, even of those engaged in this movement for Sun-
day enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this
action. They do not see that they are striking directly against religious
liberty. There are many who have never understood the claims of
the Bible Sabbath and the false foundation upon which the Sunday
institution rests. Any movement in favor of religious legislation is
really an act of concession to the papacy, which for so many ages
has steadily warred against liberty of conscience. Sunday observance
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owes its existence as a so-called Christian institution to “the mystery
of iniquity;” and its enforcement will be a virtual recognition of the
principles which are the very cornerstone of Romanism. When our
nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a
Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery; it
will be nothing else than giving life to the tyranny which has long been
eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into active despotism.
The National Reform movement, exercising the power of religious
legislation, will, when fully developed, manifest the same intolerance
and oppression that have prevailed in past ages. Human councils then
assumed the prerogatives of Deity, crushing under their despotic power
liberty of conscience; and imprisonment, exile, and death followed
for those who opposed their dictates. If popery or its principles shall
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