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traced directly to the Romish Church, which, indeed, claims the
honor of originating it; and no one has been able to dispute this
claim. The Sabbath of Jehovah commemorates the creation of the
heavens and the earth, and the commandment for its observance was
given that the earth and its inhabitants might glorify the creator. The
law which compels the observance of the Sunday-Sabbath a
the commandment of God, and the earth and them that dwell therein
are caused to do homage to the power which originated it, by resting
thereon. Protestants have ascribed various institutions to the papacy,
and applied this prophecy to them; but in none is the earth, in
distinction from those who dwell upon the earth, caused to worship
that power, except in the Sunday rest enforced upon all the land.
9. And this sufficiently shows that it is no mere assumption
to say that Catholics and Protestants will unite in enforcing the
Sunday. Catholics honor it as the evidence of their authority to
“institute festivals of precept, and to command them under sin,”
and Protestants are making most strenuous efforts for its universal
enforcement. It is a well-known fact that most of the protestant
denominations are greatly modifying their opposition to the Catholic
Church, and united action of the two bodies in favor of the sunday
is by no means improbable. But a few years ago this view was
taught on the strength of the prophecy alone. Now we see in passing
events strong indications of its fulfillment. The special object of the
“National Reform Association’ is to procure a religious amendment
to the National Constitution that the Sunday may be rescued from
desecration and universally enforced.
10. This beast not only compels the earth and its inhabitants
to worship the first beast, as above noticed, but it causes them that
dwell upon the earth to make an image to the first beast. This can be
done only by a union of Church and State, or by so subordinating
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the civil to the ecclesiastical power that the State will be compelled
to enforce the tenets and requirements of the Church. A Religious
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States would speedily
insure this result.
11. This exposition of the prophecy is confirmed by the message
from the Lord found in Revelation 14:9-12, which is based altogether on the facts of Revelation 13:11-17, and which condemns in the very
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strongest terms the action of this beast and the worship which it
enforces; it also calls to keeping the commandments of God and the
faith of Jesus, and one of these commandments enforces the Sabbath
of the Lord,—the seventh day. Therefore the contrast in the facts
and in the message which refers to the facts, is between the Sabbath
of the Lord and an opposing Sabbath, namely, the Sunday.
This is a very brief statement of the facts which justify the ex-
pressions of the author on pages 396,397.
Note 9. Page 431.—The word ‘seal’ is used in the Scriptures
in various senses, even as in common life. The definition given by
Webster, the most comprehensive, is as follows: “That which con-
firms, ratifies, or makes stable; assurance; that which authenticates;
that which secures, makes reliable, or stable.” The terms “mark” and
“sign,” also given by him, are used in the Scriptures as synonymous
with seal, as in Romans 4:11.
In the covenant with Noah it is used in the sense of assurance,
or evidence of stability. The bow in the cloud was given as a sign
or token that God would not again destroy the earth by a flood.
Genesis 9:13. In the covenant with Abraham, circumcision was the token or sign. This ratified, or made sure; for they who had not this
token were cut off. Genesis 17:11, 14. This sign or token was an institution, a rite. Gesenius gives “a memorial” as one definition of
the word found in the original of these texts. But a memorial, in the
sense of a reminder, or a remembrancer, is a token or sign.
In Exodus 31:17 and Ezekiel 20:12, 20, the Sabbath of the Lord is called a sign. It is a memorial of the Creator’s work, and so a sign
of his power and Godhead. Romans 1:20. This is also an institution as was circumcision; but there was this distinction: circumcision
was a sign in the flesh, while the Sabbath was a sign in the mind.
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“Hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you,
that ye may know that I am the Lord your God” Ezekiel 20:20.
In Ezekiel 9:4 the word used in the original is translated mark.
Gesenius says, “a mark, sign.” The Septuagint gives the same word
in this text that is given in the Greek of Romans 4:11, rendered
“sign.” Thus the words token, sign, mark, and seal are applied to the
same things, or used as of like signification, in the Scriptures.
In Ezekiel 9:4 and Revelation 7:2, 3, the mark or sign is said to be placed in the foreheads of the servants of God. Both these scriptures
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refer to a time when utter destruction is coming on the ungodly. The
seal is placed upon God’s people as a safeguard to preserve them
from the evil impending. But “the forehead” is evidently used as
a figure, to denote the intellect or mind, as “the heart” is used to
denote the disposition or affections. To mark or seal in the forehead
is the same as to “write in the mind.” Hebrews 10:16.
The Sabbath is the sign of God; it is the seal of his law. Isaiah
8:16. It is the token of his authority and power. It is a sign whereby we may know that he is God, and therefore it is appropriately said to
be placed in the forehead. The worshipers of the beast (Revelation
13) are said to receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands.
As the forehead represents the intellect, the hand represents power,
as Psalm 89:48, “Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?” Compulsory worship is not acceptable to God; his servants
are sealed only in their foreheads. But it is acceptable to wicked
powers; it has always been craved by the Romish hierarchy. See
Note 8 for proof on the nature of this mark. The sign or seal of
God is his Sabbath, and the seal or mark of the beast is in direct
opposition to it; it is a counterfeit Sabbath on the “day of the sun.”
In the message of the third angel (Revelation 14:9-12) they who do not receive the mark of the beast keep the commandments of God,
and the Sabbath is in the fourth precept; they keep the Sabbath of
the Lord; they have his sign or seal. The importance of this sign
is shown in this, that the fourth commandment is the only one in
the law which distinguishes the creator from false Gods. Compare
Jeremiah 10:10-12; Acts 17:23, 24; Revelation 14:6, 7; etc. and it is that part of his law for keeping which his people will suffer
persecution. But when the wrath of God comes upon the persecutors