Liberty of Conscience Threatened
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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
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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 Sunday-sabbath, will
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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 Protes-
tant churches are paying her homage in their acceptance of the false
sabbath and that they are preparing to enforce it by the very means