p. 366 | Two Great Compromises

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 16, 1883

Two Great Compromises

THE AMERICAN COMPROMISE.—CONTINUED.

THERE is another feature of the work pointed out in the prophecy of Rev. 13, closely allied to that which we presented last week. This beast with two horns Causes the earth, and its inhabitants, to worship the first beast. Among church writers there has been much query as to what constituted "the mark of the beast." When we were connected with the Baptist Church we were instructed that it was the institution of infant baptism, or the practice of sprinkling for baptism, these being papal innovations. We believe now as strongly as ever we did that these are indeed unauthorized by the Scriptures, and that they have no higher origin than the papal power, and are upheld by tradition. But we do not believe they constitute the mark of the beast. Last week we gave the testimony of the Church itself that the Sunday institution as a Christian festival or Christian Sabbath is regarded as the strong evidence of the power of the Church, even as the Sabbath of the Lord, the seventh day, is given in the Scriptures as the memorial or sign of the power of God as Creator. We shall now give other reasons for holding that the Sunday festival, the Church's rival of the Sabbath of the Lord, is the prominent subject of this prophecy.

Verse 12 says, he "causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast." There are many ways in which the dwellers upon the earth may do homage to the beast, but not many ways in which the earth, in distinction from its inhabitants, can be made to worship that power. Granting that sprinkling and infant baptism are of human origin, and rest solely upon papal authority, then they who practice them honor the power which established them in the Church. But while a part, and only a part, of the Protestant world do homage to the beast in that manner, it cannot be said that the earth itself is made to worship the beast by the same means. We have heard it advanced also, that the adoption of church creeds, which are too often made substitutes for the Bible, was the worship of the beast here spoken of; but that is open to the same objection which stands against the other theory. In that the earth does not worship.

There is but one thing in which this can be fulfilled. It is that institution which the papal power presents as the strongest evidence of the authority of the Church, namely, the Sunday-Sabbath. As a popular Catholic writer says: "The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the Church." God commanded that man should rest upon the Sabbath, in seed-time and in harvest. But now, according to an ordinance of "the Church" the land must be neither sowed nor reaped on the Sunday. The earth must thus do homage to the papal power. In this, and in this alone, can the prophecy be fulfilled. No other institution of Catholic appointment can meet the case. We may reasonably ask two things of those who dissent from this: 1. Show that the Sunday is to be observed by divine appointment. 2. Produce some institution, or something, wherein the earth, as well as them that dwell therein, is caused to worship that power. Here we have a most important prophecy, coming home to every one of us, in process of fulfillment by the enforcement of the Sunday-Sabbath, in Protestant-Republican America. True, it is mild and lamb-like yet, even in this; but the dragon spirit is fast asserting itself wherever the issue is made.

And this is the only institution of man incorporated into the religious belief of the world which, by general consent can be enforced by the civil power. Infant baptism is only partially accepted, and by those who accept it, it is not proposed as a subject of legislation. And this is true of every innovation in the church, except of the so-called "Christian Sabbath." Without a particle of Bible proof to sustain it; with the confession of its ablest advocates that there is no specific requirement in the Scriptures that it shall be observed; upheld by inferences, weaker than many advanced in favor of rejected Catholic dogmas; it is yet declared to be the very "foundation of our holy religion," and fairly elevated to the highest place of adoration by those who cannot at all agree upon the reason for doing so! And it is not only accepted by nearly the entire religious world as an important part of their faith and practice, but singled out from all other points of religion as an institution to be upheld and enforced by human law. And the rulers and politicians stand ready to do the bidding of the churches, and inflict penalties upon all who dare to have a conscience for themselves; whose religious convictions lead them to accept the commandment just as Jehovah spoke it.

The prophecy points out a persecution on this subject. But here we are met with a disclaimer on the part of those who clamor for laws to enforce the Sunday upon those who keep the seventh day. They say that there is no persecution intended; that no wrong can grow out of such laws; and that no one can have any just right to complain of their operations. But of all fallacies ever put forth by prejudiced or bigoted men this seems the shallowest. Thus, in the report of a meeting in Minnesota, published in the Christian Statesman, the meeting being held by an agent of the Religious Amendment Association, it is said: "The discussion was made doubly interesting by the opposition of a Seventh-day Adventist." Hence the issue between the parties was in the mind of the writer of the report. He says:—

"In reply to the objection that this movement, if successful, would oppress all who keep the seventh day as the Sabbath, it was lamented that any society of people bearing the Christian name should ally themselves with infidels in opposing Sabbath laws; that as they are not persecuted now by the operation of our statute laws on the Sabbath, neither would they be if those laws were secured by constitutional amendment; and that while the vast majority of Christian people observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath, that must be the day recognized by law, and any disadvantage suffered by those who keep the seventh day arises from the peculiarity of position, and not from any injustice in the law."

Now notice the spirit already manifested by this people.

1. They who obey the law of God just as he gave it, are classed with infidels as opposers of Sabbath laws! Surely, this is a modern definition of infidelity, for this is the amount of the charge. To oppose the law of man when it conflicts with the law of God, is infidelity; to set aside the law of God and substitute for it the law of man, and compel others to do the same, is loyal and Christian! In this manner the nation is to be Christianized.

2. They who observe the seventh day would not be persecuted if the Sunday laws were upheld by constitutional amendment; why? because they are not now. But the complaint of that party is that these Sunday laws are not now enforced; that they need constitutional authority for their enforcement; and that the present laws allow exemption in favor of those who keep the seventh day, which they say is wrong and demoralizing. And further, the Christian Statesman has explicitly declared that, when this amendment shall be procured, no one who does not keep the Sunday shall be permitted to hold any office under the Government! Here they contemplate an entire change in the structure of the Government, of turning it into a religious sectarian machine, and then affirm that there will be no persecution when that change is made, and for proof of their affirmation offer the fact that there is no persecution now, when the structure of the Government will not permit it! People who expect us to accept such reasoning are blind and bigoted enough to do anything.

3. When all is accomplished for which they are now asking, and those who keep the seventh day are by human law compelled to observe Sunday also, there will be no injustice done to them by the law; they will suffer by reason of the peculiarity of their position!!! Reader, note that passage in the above extract. The law under which John Huss was burned was not an unjust law. If you doubt this statement ask "the Church." The law was not calculated to hurt anybody; he suffered because of the peculiarity of his position! It was solely through his own obduracy that John Rogers was burned at the stake. They who caused him to be burned were pious people; loving Christians, zealous for the glory of God; they would not have injured a hair of his head if he had only changed his position! Why will not Seventh-day Adventists learn a lesson from history and change their peculiar position so that the church will not be compelled to teach them as Gideon taught the men of Succoth? Judges 8:16.

If such is the blindness, the bigotry, the spirit already manifested among these "National Reformers," what may not be expected of them when they get the power in their hands? when the courts are compelled by the Constitution to decide religious questions according to the bidding of "the church"? When these things come—and come they surely will, for the current of public opinion is setting heavily in that direction—let all take notice that we have done our duty in warning the country of their coming, and of the consequences of uniting church and State by amending our National Constitution in such a manner as to make persecution possible.

One point more in the symbols of the prophecy we will notice, and then make our application on the compromise. When the image is formed, and the mark is enforced, it says the mark is received in the forehead, or in the right hand. The forehead is used to represent the intellect of man, as hand is used to represent power. The psalmist says he was delivered from the hand of the grave. There is no doubt about the use of these figures. This point in the prophecy brings to view two classes of Sunday-keepers: One composed of those who regard it as a religious institution; who observe it from their own convictions or profession of faith. The other, of those who keep it because the law, the civil power, commands them to do so. Intellectually, or as far as their own convictions are concerned, they care nothing about it. The former may well be represented in this system of symbols as receiving this mark—this distinctive feature of papal worship—in their foreheads; the latter, in their hands. It is with them a question of power solely; not at all of conviction or of worship. And the present agitation of the question of "Sunday in politics" is bringing the public mind up to the point where it will not be difficult for the people to take their stand; it is preparing them to act in conformity with this unrighteous decree whenever the time comes when it shall be enacted.

It will be noticed in Rev. 7:1–4, that a certain number are said to have the seal of God in their foreheads. And this, too, is received just before the day of wrath. Also in Rev. 14:1, the same number are said to have the Father's name written in their foreheads. These are triumphant, with the Lamb on Mount Sion. And yet again the victorious company, saved from the seven last plagues, Rev. 15, are said to have gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name. This is the company of those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus; who do not worship the beast and his image, nor receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands. Rev. 14:9–12. It is to be noticed that God's servants are sealed only in their foreheads. But they who set aside the commandments of God are quite well satisfied if men receive the mark in their hands. Nominal worship of a human institution is, to them, preferable to spiritual worship in obedience to the institution of Jehovah. So it was when the beast power had the supremacy; they who presumed to follow the plain reading of the Bible in preference to the teachings and ordinances of the Church were considered guilty of the vilest heresy. And this kind of religion is being revived in the last days. "History repeats itself." An infidel who keeps Sunday is to be preferred to the most conscientious Christian who keeps the seventh day because God commands it! Reader, you know we are speaking truth to you. It is being demonstrated in every State; and soon it will be in every neighborhood. Next week we will take a brief survey of the whole ground, and give additional reasons for expecting to soon see a compromise of all interests in favor of Sunday.