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7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.Revelation continues in more detail, describing the proud words, and the blasphemy of the beast. The length of time for the domination of the beast is repeated.25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Daniel 7:7-8,25
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.From these next verses we see the blasphemies of the beast to change times and laws become a mark of the beast. This mark occurs when civil legislation attempts to enforce religious observance. The mark in the hand is when you obey the requirements. The mark in the forehead is when you believe in the blasphemy
Revelation 13:5-6
16 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: 17 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.
Revelation 13:16-17
Warning! Papal Rome is an apostatized religious system mingled with political power created by Satan. Do not apply what I am saying to people in the Roman Catholic Church. Do not confuse the difference between the errors of the power system and the people in the church.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:This is a sample of the Catholic teachings of the immortality of the soul from the Catechism.
Genesis 3:4
The term "flesh" refers to man in his state of weakness and mortality. The "resurrection of the flesh" (the literal formulation of the Apostles' Creed) means not only that the immortal soul will live on after death, but that even our "mortal body" will come to life again.
The Profession of Christian FaithAdditional materials research links:
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.Further discussion of the issues of this commandment are covered in "Separating the Sacred and the Profane".
Exodus 20:4-6
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:9-11
Pope John Paul II released a lengthy letter in 1998 detailing the importance of Sunday legislation. An example quote from section 67:
Therefore, also in the particular circumstances of our own time, Christians will naturally strive to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy. In any case, they are obliged in conscience to arrange their Sunday rest in a way which allows them to take part in the Eucharist, refraining from work and activities which are incompatible with the sanctification of the Lord's Day, with its characteristic joy and necessary rest for spirit and body.
Apostolic Letter Dies Domini
The Catholic Catechism calls for Sunday legislation.
In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church's holy days as legal holidays. They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, respect, and joy and defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society. If a country's legislation or other reasons require work on Sunday, the day should nevertheless be lived as the day of our deliverance which lets us share in this "festal gathering," this "assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven."
Catechism of the Catholic Church
4 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover.The Passover is part of the statutes of God. The Ten Commandments are only a summary of God's law. The statutes are the details of God's law. The importance of the statutes was lost in the Dark Ages. Currently most believe they are no longer binding. Only the sacrificial system was fulfilled at Golgotha. The 144,000 and all those saved at the end of time will obey all the commandments, statutes, and judgements found in the Torah.
Leviticus 23:5
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Revelation 18:4
The church rightfully rejected the pagan and Catholic Sunday worship which was substituted for the weekly Sabbath (Saturday) worship. Yet, they have failed to reject the pagan and Catholic holidays which were substituted for the seven yearly Sabbath Holy Days. Some pastors even encourage people to enjoy the pagan holidays while they preach against God’s Holy Days. The seven yearly Sabbaths are part of the statutes of God (the Law of Moses).
Weekly Sabbath (7th day of the week)
Unleavened Bread (15th day of the 1st month)
Unleavened Bread (21st day of the 1st month)
Pentecost (50 days after the 15th day of the 1st month)
Trumpets (1st day of the 7th month)
Day of Atonement (10th day of the 7th month)
Tabernacles (15th day of the 7th month)
Last Great Day (22nd day of the 7th month)
Weekly Sunday (1st day of the week)
Easter Sunday (Sunday after Passover)
Pentecost Sunday (7th Sunday after Easter)
Nativity of the Lord (December 25, Christmas)
Epiphany of the Lord (January 6)
Ascension of the Lord (Forty days after Easter)
Body and Blood of Christ (9th Thursday after Easter)
Holy Mary the Mother of God (January 1)
Mary Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Assumption of Mary (August 15)
Saint Joseph (March 19)
Saint Peter and Saint Paul (June 29)
All Saints (November 1)
Additional materials research links:
In fact, all countries are urged to recognize all Catholic Holy Days as legal holidays. Croatia, for example, signed an agreement with the Holy See on February 11, 1999 regarding juridical questions. Article 9 of the agreement explicitly states as follows:
Sunday and the following Holy Days will be free from work:a) January 1, commemoration of Mary, the most holy Mother of God, New Year;
b) January 6, the Epiphany of the Lord or the Holy Magi;
c) Monday following Easter-Sunday;
d) August 15, the Assumption of the Blessed virgin Mary;
e) November 1, all the saints;
f) December 25, the Birth of the Lord;
g) December 26, first day after Christmas, St. Stephan.
The Constitutionality of Religious Holidays.
The original reference for this document was in Italian (http://www.hbk.hr/vijesti/1996/talug/tprv.htm) but was removed from the web. The file was found in the internet archives (http://web.archive.org/web/20030122125014/ http://www.hbk.hr/vijesti/1996/talug/tprv.htm) for a while but was disallowed from there also.
Other sites mention this document.
"http://www.fourwindspublications.org/letters.html"
http://www.libertymagazine.org/article/articleview/200/1/36/
The Law of the Catholic Church defines their Holy Days.
Canon 1246 §1. Sunday, on which by apostolic tradition the paschal mystery is celebrated, must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation. The following days must also be observed: the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension, the Body and Blood of Christ, Holy Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles, and All Saints.
Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church
It is important to understand we are to obey the laws of the land when they do not directly contradict the law of God. The existing Sunday laws and some of the ones soon to come can be obeyed.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
I Peter 2:13-15
When we are required to cease labor on Sunday, we can do so. God gave us six days in which to labor. It does not mean we must work every day. Many other days of the year are already days of leisure and not work. When the civil law tells us to cease labor on Sunday, we can comply.
These events in the past provide valuable guidance for future events.
Question: "Should not those in the Southern field work on Sunday?" [The questioner evidently had in mind to inquire regarding the duty of our brethren under conditions then existing in the South, rather than their duty in that particular locality, regardless of conditions.] {RH, April 6, 1911 par. 10}"If they do this, there is danger that as soon as the opposing element can get the slightest opportunity, they will stir up one another to persecute those whom they hate. At present Sunday-keeping is not the test. The time will come when men will not only forbid Sunday work, but they will try to force men to labor on the Sabbath, and to subscribe to Sunday observance or forfeit their freedom and their lives. But the time for this has not yet come, for the truth must be presented more fully before the people as a witness. What I have said about this should not be understood as referring to the action of old Sabbath-keepers who understand the truth. They must move as the Lord shall direct them, but let them consider that they can do the best missionary work on Sunday. {RH, April 6, 1911 par. 11} Ellen G. White. The Review and Herald, April 6, 1911 A Study of Principles -- No. 5,Methods of Labor Where Prejudice Is Strong
If laws are passed to attend church on Sunday, we might choose to do so. We already have meetings on any day of the week. In our own churches we can hold Sunday prayer meetings, if required. Those who believe and practice the fourth commandment know it takes much more than attending church to be keeping a day holy.
Only through much prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit will the faithful be guided to proper spiritual discernment. Do not let the early Sunday laws provoke an inappropriate response and do not let them lull you into complacency. We must be careful to discern the difference between worshipping on a day and worshipping the day itself.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:16
The earliest Sunday laws have been mild and demand little in an attempt to soften the resistance and lull the unsuspecting into complacency. The beast will not stop at this. Laws will be set that clearly contradict the law of God. These we will not and must not obey.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Matthew 10:23
The Bible clearly and often teaches the leaving of the cities. Have we listened? Soon we will, under duress instead of choice. Otherwise we will be subject to greater persecution than what God has planned for us to endure.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 15 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Matthew 24:15-16
Ellen White said much on the subject of obedience to civil law. This is just a sampling of some available quotes.
Ellen G. White. Great Controversy, Chapter 36, The Impending Conflict, page 590, paragraph 2.
"The miracle-working power manifested through spiritualism will exert its influence against those who choose to obey God rather than men. Communications from the spirits will declare that God has sent them to convince the rejecters of Sunday of their error, affirming that the laws of the land should be obeyed as the law of God. They will lament the great wickedness in the world and second the testimony of religious teachers that the degraded state of morals is caused by the desecration of Sunday. Great will be the indignation excited against all who refuse to accept their testimony." {GC 590.2}
Carefully note the difference between the true and false statement.
The laws of the land should be obeyed subject to the law of God.
"The laws of the land should be obeyed as the law of God".
Additional materials research quotes:
Ellen G. White. Report of Progress December 3, 1907, paragraph 3.
"The light given me by the Lord at a time when we were expecting just such a crisis as you seem to be approaching, was, that when the people were moved by a power from beneath to enforce Sunday observance. Seventh-day Adventists were to show their wisdom by refraining from work on that day, devoting it to missionary effort." {RP, December 3, 1907 par. 3}
Ellen G. White. Report of Progress December 3, 1907, page 590 paragraph 17.
"The law for the observance of the first day of the week is the production of an apostate Christendom. Sunday is a child of the Papacy, exalted by the Christian world above the sacred day of God's rest. In no case are God's people to pay it homage. But I wish them to understand that they are not doing God's will by braving opposition when he wishes them to avoid it. Thus they create prejudice so bitter that it is impossible for the truth to be proclaimed. Make no demonstration on Sunday in defiance of law. If this is done in one place, and you are humiliated, the same thing will be done in another place. We can use Sunday as a day on which to carry forward work that will tell on the side of Christ. We are to do our best, working with all meekness and lowliness." {RP, December 3, 1907 par. 17}
Ellen G. White. The General Conference Bulletin April 14, 1903, paragraph 6.
"We must try to remove their prejudice against the Bible Sabbath. And never must we say to them, "You must work on Sunday." At one time, while I was in Australia, those in charge of our school at Avondale came to me, saying: "What shall we do? The officers of the law have been commissioned to arrest those working on Sunday." I said: "It will be very easy to avoid that difficulty. Give Sunday to the Lord as a day for doing missionary work. Take the students out to hold meetings in different places, and to do medical missionary work. They will find the people at home, and will have a splendid opportunity to present the truth. This way of spending Sunday is always acceptable to the Lord." {GCB, April 14, 1903 par. 6}
Ellen G. White. Great Controversy, page 65 paragraph 1.
"Among the leading causes that had led to the separation of the true church from Rome was the hatred of the latter toward the Bible Sabbath. As foretold by prophecy, the papal power cast down the truth to the ground. The law of God was trampled in the dust, while the traditions and customs of men were exalted. The churches that were under the rule of the papacy were early compelled to honor the Sunday as a holy day. Amid the prevailing error and superstition, many, even of the true people of God, became so bewildered that while they observed the Sabbath, they refrained from labor also on the Sunday. But this did not satisfy the papal leaders. They demanded not only that Sunday be hallowed, but that the Sabbath be profaned; and they denounced in the strongest language those who dared to show it honor. It was only by fleeing from the power of Rome that any could obey God's law in peace. {GC 65.1}
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