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Mystery of Iniquity
257
pressed down a little lower, while the Sunday was correspondingly
exalted. Thus the pagan festival came finally to be honored as a
divine institution, while the Bible Sabbath was pronounced a relic
of Judaism, and its observers were declared to be accursed.
The great apostate had succeeded in exalting himself “above
all that is called God, or that is worshipped.”
2 Thessalonians 2:4
.
He had dared to change the only precept of the divine law that
unmistakably points all mankind to the true and living God. In the
fourth commandment God is revealed as the Creator of the heavens
and the earth, and is thereby distinguished from all false gods. It
was as a memorial of the work of creation that the seventh day was
sanctified as a rest day for man. It was designed to keep the living
God ever before the minds of men as the source of being and the
object of reverence and worship. Satan strives to turn men from
their allegiance to God and from rendering obedience to His law;
therefore he directs his efforts especially against that commandment
which points to God as the Creator.
Protestants now urge that the resurrection of Christ on Sunday
made it the Christian Sabbath. But Scripture evidence is lacking.
No such honor was given to the day by Christ or His apostles. The
observance of Sunday as a Christian institution has its origin in that
“mystery of lawlessness” which, even in Paul’s day, had begun its
work. Where and when did the Lord adopt this child of the Papacy?
What valid reason can be given for a change concerning which the
Scriptures are silent?
In the sixth century the Papacy had become firmly established.
Its seat of power was fixed in the imperial city, and the Bishop of
[331]
Rome was declared to be the head over the entire church. Paganism
had given place to the Papacy. The dragon had given to the beast “his
power, and his seat, and great authority.”
Revelation 13:2
. And now
began the 1260 years of papal oppression foretold in the prophecies
of Daniel and John. (
Daniel 7:25
;
Revelation 13:5-7
.) Christians
were forced to choose, either to yield their integrity and accept the
papal ceremonies and worship, or to wear away their lives in dungeon
cells, or suffer death by the rack, the fagot, or the headsman’s ax.
Now were fulfilled the words of Jesus, “Ye shall be betrayed both by
parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you
shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men