National and World Sunday Laws

To many who live in the democracy of these United States, the whole concept of a Sunday worship law seems alien, even impossible. Those who live in other nations may have experienced governmental enforcement of laws which directly violated their freedoms, and these people may have experienced arbitrary government; yet even they question why such a thing could ever be desirable to their government. An attempt to enforce the religious observance of Sunday seems unlikely at best, and many scoff at the idea that such a thing could come to pass. Yet, the Scriptures foretell this very thing--and even on a world scale.

In Revelation 13:11 we read of a special beast: "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." This beast, is the United States of America. |0| Notice now what the U.S. will do: "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." (vs. 12) As we have learned, the "first beast" is the Roman Catholic Church. |1+| Next, the United States makes "an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." (vs. 14-15) This "image to the beast" is American Protestantism as it legislates Sunday observance. |2| Finally, the United States "causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (vs. 16-17) So, we see that the United States is primarily instrumental in establishing the "mark of the beast."

Now, we have already learned that the "mark of the beast" is Sunday worship. |3+| So, what the Scripture is foretelling here is the establishment of a national and finally world Sunday law which will call the loyalty of all people into question: will they be loyal to God and His laws, or will they be loyal to themselves, protecting themselves from persecution, and following the traditions of men?

Are there efforts being made that would fulfill this prophecy? Let us look and we will see. There is tremendous evidence that American Protestants are attempting to have laws made which will enforce Sunday worship in the United States. We will start back a few years to show the trend.

"Resolved that the Sabbath (Sunday) is a sign between God and man, and its reverent observance a mark of the nation whose God is Jehovah." (National Reform Convention, Sept. 1887.) This is from a Protestant church union organized to initiate national Sunday laws. Notice that they are right about Sabbath observance being a sign between God and man. However, their false sabbath (Sunday) is just as much a sign--only, at the time of the very end, it becomes a sign of determined rebellion against the government of God.

Doctor Harry Bowlby says, "We shall agitate. . .until no Congressman who cares to stay in Congress will dare refuse to vote for our measures. . . Seventh-day Adventists and the Jews. . . will have to conform to the laws if we succeed." (Philadelphia PUBLIC LEDGER, Nov. 20, 1920)

Rev. M. A. Gault, of the "National Reform Association," says, "We propose to incorporate in our national Constitution the moral and religious command, 'In it (Sunday) thou shalt do no work, except the works of necessity,' and by external force of sheriffs, we propose to arrest and punish all violators of this law."

WE HEREBY AGREE. . . that such Sabbath (Sunday) observance laws for the District of Columbia may be looked upon not only as model Sabbath observance laws for America, but as model Sabbath observance laws for the rest of the world." (CHRISTIAN STATESMAN, Sept. 1927.) This is from a Protestant coalition for the enactment of Sunday laws.

Rev. Harold P. Malcom, quoted in the SAN DIEGO "SUN", Sept. 18, 1929, says, "We are going to ask Congress at its next session to enact Sunday enforcement laws with teeth in them. If we have to take over the government, we will do it, even if we have to sacrifice our life callings."

Now, these quotations are from some time ago. Are they the sentiments of a few extreme "right wing" individuals, or do they represent the intentions of a large, powerful, present day movement? Let us look at some recent quotations from some very well-known individuals.

"This organization proposes in every possible way to aid in preserving Sunday as a civil institution. Our national security requires the active support of all good citizens in the maintenance of our 'American Sabbath.' Sunday laws must be enacted and enforced." Quoted from principles contained in the Constitution of the Original Organization (then called the AMERICAL SABBATH UNION, and now called THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE) in its Twenty-fifth Report, page 6. "Above all else, we need a national resolution--a constitutional amendment if necessary--reaffirming our Judeo-Christian heritage. We must take back the religious freedom that the Supreme Court has taken from us." (PAT ROBERTSON'S PERSPECTIVE, 1980.)

Pat Robertson recently lost in his bid for the Presidency of the United States, a bid which, he declared publicly, was assured by God of success.

Jerry Falwell is fond of saying such things as, "I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a Republican. I'm just a noisy Baptist." And, "Jesus was not a pacifist. He was not a sissy." Jerry Falwell founded "Moral Majority" in 1979 as a platform from which to preach his political reform ideas. In a sermon called "Ministers and Marches," preached way back in 1965 in response to Martin Luthor King Jr.'s political involvement, Rev. Falwell denounced political activity by the clergy. By 1980, however, he had "recanted" from "Ministers and Marches" in the strongest terms by sending out red-white-and-blue-bannered letters stating: "In recent months, God has been calling me to do more than just preach--He has called me to take action. I have a divine mandate to go right into the halls of Congress and fight for laws that will save America."

When asked why a national Sunday law is needed, a Moral Majority leader replied, "There will be no relief from mounting economic disaster until Sunday is strictly enforced by government decrees and action." (LIBERTY CONFIDENTIAL NEWSLETTER Vol. 5, 1982.)

Certainly you have heard of both the Lord's Day Alliance and the Moral Majority. They are both large and powerful movements. Together, they represent the thinking of many mainstream Protestant people.

These powerful religious groups have some genuinely positive concerns. They're working for many good things: better TV programs, family unity, a positive outlook toward our country, etc. But what they overlook is that when the U.S. actually passes a national Sunday observance law, it will have taken away the religious freedom of those who choose to keep God's day instead of the day of the sun which the Roman church brought in from paganism.

Many are concerned about the possibility of a major reworking of the Constitution of the United States which could involve a redefinition of religious liberties. In fact, during the developmental years of the original "Sabbath Software," upon which this site is based, a strong movement was underway (it was a few states short of being called) to call a Constitutional Convention. |4| Such a "Con-Con" might yet prove a quick way to alter the religious climate of our nation. However, the calling of a Constitutional Convention is not necessary to enact a national Sunday law. Congress and the President have normal and mundane channels by which to bring a Sunday law into effect.

WHAT IS BEHIND IT ALL?

Remember that the "beast" gets its power from the "dragon" which is Satan. Satan has always desired worship--even forced or coerced worship. Remember that he had the gall to ask our Lord to bow before him during the three temptations in the wilderness. Satan, unlike God, revels in force and is just as happy when people don't know that they are worshiping him as when they do. As long as Satan can get people to rebel against God, he has served his deepest and most cherished purpose. Notice that the "mark of the beast" can be received in the hand or in the forehead. This is symbolic of consenting to the Sunday law either by simply doing what that law requires, even while disagreeing with it (the mark in your hand), or by your agreement with and decided action to support the law (the mark in your forehead). Satan doesn't care why you obey that law, just as long as he can force you to obey it and thereby pay him homage.

The primary issue at stake here is our perception of God. Sunday law advocates believe that "The curse of God is upon this country and will not be lifted until a Sunday law is enacted and enforced." (Major U.S. A.M. radio station in Washington D.C.) Because they believe this, they also believe that God can be placated by forced worship. They think that by forcing people to worship God, they can win His favor. This belief attributes to God the same mind as Satan. In fact, God only wants the obedience that springs from love. Morality cannot be legislated. |5|

The crowning blow of Satan is that, not only does he warp the people's perceptions of God, he does it with a FALSE day of worship. Even if the day were correct, FORCING people to keep it would not win God's favor--but even THE DAY IS WRONG.

Satan has always tried to force the consciences of men. He will use guilt, flattery, bribery, or any other tactic he thinks will cause men to ignore conscience and yield to his devices.

You have certainly heard of John Bunyan. Perhaps you have read his momentous book PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. What you may not know is that PILGRIM'S PROGRESS was written from within prison walls, and that John Bunyan spent 10 years in an English prison for his religious convictions. LIBERTY MAGAZINE published an article in its Jan./Feb. 1988 issue, by Howard V. Pendley III, entitled "The Breedlove Papers," which contains a verbatim account of the trial which ultimately landed John Bunyan in prison in 1660. The thing that is most notable is Bunyan's unwavering stand against Satan's many and varied attacks. We share the transcript, that you may examine religious intolerance against a man of God, and thereby be armed against similar attacks against your own religious freedoms. |6| Satan is after your conscience too. WHERE WILL YOU STAND?

Priest Hecker, in the CATHOLIC WORLD, July 1980, stated: "Erelong there will be a state religion in the United States, and that state religion is to be Roman Catholic." This is in accordance with the Papal Encyclical of Pope Leo XXIII, 1879, "The Church of Rome is one monarchy over all the kingdoms of the earth, and is, among temporal bodies, as the mind or soul of the body of a man, or as God in the world. Therefore the Church of Rome must not only have the spiritual power, but also the supreme temporal power."

The Roman Church is determined to regain her lost supremacy over the world. "The deadly wound was healed" and the "beast" wants the wonder of "the whole world." It is sad to see Protestantism accept the Catholic mark of authority (Sunday) and work to create a mirror image of papal persecution from the dark ages right here in our land of freedom.

In John Bunyan's trial, Judge Wingate claims that most human tragedies have been the result of differences of opinion in religious matters, and that conformity of belief is the solution. He was wrong, as are all those who see history in the same pale light that he did. In fact, the most appalling horrors in human history were not the result of DIVERGENCY of religious belief, but were the result of INTOLERANCE of the majority toward a minority religious belief. Conformity is a worthy goal. However, EDUCATION is the only path to travel as we seek to get there. And, TOLERANCE is the attitude we must maintain as we walk the path of life with our fellow man.

George Washington once said, "Every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshiping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience." But, the "public good" must have its martyrs. Because warped opinions about God have made Him out as a tyrant who must have obedience even if by force, and because that obedience itself is warped into a pagan Satanic institution that bears no Divine credentials whatsoever, Satan is put into the place of God in the lives of many.

Now, however, you know the truth about what is coming. You will see more and more evidence of this truth as time progresses. So, it only remains for you to ask, "What will I do? How will I handle this coming crisis?" May the Lord grant you understanding and courage as you contemplate these powerful and stupendous prophecies and as you decide the part you will play in the upcoming events.