Sabbath School Lessons

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 5, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 48.

Sabbath School Lessons

“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” —Neh. 8:8.

Lesson XII.—Sabbath, December 21, 1895.

Sunday Laws.

Origin and Early History.

1. By whom and when was the first Sunday law on record made? Ans.—By Constantine, A.D. 321. See note .

2. By whom and when were the so-called Christian church and Roman state united?

Ans.—Church and state were united under Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century. Says Draper:—

“It was the aim of Constantine to make theology a branch of politics; it was the hope of every bishop in the empire to make politics a branch of theology.” “The unavoidable consequences were a union between the church and state.”—Intellectual Development of Europe, chapters 9 and 10.

3. By what means was this largely effected?

Ans.—Referring to Sunday legislation, Neander says:—

“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.”—Neander’s History of the Christian Church (edition 1852), vol. 2, p. 300.

Speaking of Constantine, the American Sabbath Union, in its Pearl of Day Leaflets, No. 3, says:—

“He was inclined—whether from policy or conviction is not material to our argument—to favor Christianity, and to make it the prominent religion of his empire, and one step toward this was to recognize the day which he found universally(?) observed by Christians, as the day of rest for his people.”—P. 12.

Their Object.

4. What is Satan’s object in securing Sunday laws?

Ans.—Satan’s object in securing Sunday laws is to cause men to honor Sunday in the place of the Sabbath—to obscure from their minds a knowledge of the true God by blotting out his great memorial of the manifestations of his creative power, and to keep alive that form of religion of which the Sunday sabbath is the sign, or mark, which is idolatry.

“Not a move has been made in exalting the idol sabbath in bringing around Sunday observance through legislation, but Satan has been behind it, and has been the chief worker.”

“No law has ever been made to exalt the idol sabbath but that Satan has taken a leading part in its enactment and its enforcement. Every law for the elevation of Sunday has a direct reference to the fourth commandment. Every move that has been made to enforce its observance is for the purpose of exalting the man of sin above God and above all that is worshiped.”—Mrs. E. G. White, in Review and Herald, April 15 and 29, 1890.

5. Who have been instrumental in securing them?

Ans.—From the first, church leaders have been instrumental in securing Sunday laws. The following admission states the truth: “During nearly all our American history the churches have influenced the states to make and improve sabbath laws.”—W. F. Crafts, in Christian Statesman, July 3, 1890.

6. What does this show? Ans.—That such laws are religious in their nature.

7. What is an expressed design of those who advocate Sunday laws? Ans.—To compel church attendance. See note .

8. For what were civil governments ordained? Ans.—To protect the rights of men, and not to protect religious institutions.

Their Results.

9. What is the Sunday institution? Ans.—The mark of papal power and apostasy, the mark of the beast.

10. What do Sunday laws, therefore, enforce?

11. Where is this mark to be received?

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.” Rev. 13:16.

12. What would the hand naturally symbolize? Ans.—Labor. See 1 Cor. 4:12; Eph. 4:28. What would be represented by the forehead? Ans.—The mind. See Rom. 7:25.

13. Where will those receive the mark of the beast, therefore, who cease to work on Sunday simply in deference to the law?

14. Where will those receive it who, knowing its origin, continue to observe it as a religious institution?

15. Is it not significant, therefore, that the Sunday institution has taken on its “civil” and “religious” aspect? See note .

The Final Issue.

16. Why may we not obey a Sunday law and yet observe the Sabbath? Ans.—We can not serve two masters, or bear the badge of two opposing powers. See note .

17. How many days in the week does God give us for labor?

“Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work.” Ex. 20:9.

18. Can a man work six days a week and keep two Sabbaths? Can he serve two masters?

“No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye can not serve God and mammon.” Matt. 6:24.

19. To what will the final issue be brought? Ans.—To the giving up of the Sabbath. See note .

20. To what will the prohibition against keeping the Sabbath be a parallel?

“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.” Dan. 6:4–9.

21. How did Daniel conduct himself after he knew that the decree was signed?

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and, his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” Verse 10.

22. For what purpose was his case, also that of the three Hebrews, written?

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor. 10:11.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4.