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world。 In nearly every council the Sabbath which God had instituted was
pressed down a little lower； while the Sunday was correspondingly exalted。
Thus the pagan festival came finally to be honored as a divine institution；
while the Bible Sabbath was pronounced a relic of Judaism； and its observers
were declared to be accursed。
The great apostate had succeeded in exalting himself 〃above all that is
called God； or that is worshiped。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：4。 He had dared to
change the only precept of the divine law that unmistakably points all
mankind to the true and living God。 In the fourth commandment； God is
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revealed as the Creator of the heavens and the earth； and is thereby
distinguished from all false gods。 It was as a memorial of the work of
creation that the seventh day was sanctified as a rest day for man。 It was
designed to keep the living God ever before the minds of men as the source
of being and the object of reverence and worship。 Satan strives to turn men
from their allegiance to God； and from rendering obedience to His law；
therefore he directs his efforts especially against that commandment which
points to God as the Creator。
Protestants now urge that the resurrection of Christ on Sunday made it the
Christian Sabbath。 But Scripture evidence is lacking。 No such honor was
given to the day by Christ or His apostles。 The observance of Sunday as a
Christian institution had its origin in that 〃mystery of lawlessness〃 （2
Thessalonians 2：7； R。V。） which； even in Paul's day； had begun its work。
Where and when did the Lord adopt this child of the papacy？ What valid
reason can be given for a change which the Scriptures do not sanction？
In the sixth century the papacy had become firmly established。 Its seat of
power was fixed in the imperial city； and the bishop of Rome was declared to
be the head over the entire church。 Paganism had given place to the papacy。
The dragon had given to the beast 〃his power； and his seat； and great
authority。〃 Revelation 13：2。 And now began the 1260 years of papal
oppression foretold in the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation。 Daniel
7：25； Revelation 13：5…7。 （See Appendix。） Christians were forced to choose
either to yield their integrity and accept the papal ceremonies and worship；
or to wear away their lives in dungeons or suffer death by the rack； the
fagot； or the headsman's ax。 Now were fulfilled the words of Jesus： 〃Ye
shall be betrayed both by parents； and brethren； and kinsfolks； and friends；
and some of you shall they cause to be put to death。 And ye shall be hated
of all men for My name's sake。〃 Luke 21：16； 17。 Persecution opened upon the
faithful with greater fury than ever before；
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and the world became a vast battlefield。 For hundreds of years the church of
Christ found refuge in seclusion and obscurity。 Thus says the prophet： 〃The
woman fled into the wilderness； where she hath a place prepared of God； that
they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three…score days。〃
Revelation 12：6。
The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the Dark
Ages。 As her power increased； the darkness deepened。 Faith was transferred
from Christ； the true foundation； to the pope of Rome。 Instead of trusting
in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation； the
people looked to the pope； and to the priests and prelates to whom he
delegated authority。 They were taught that the pope was their earthly
mediator and that none could approach God except through him； and； further；
that he stood in the place of God to them and was therefore to be implicitly
obeyed。 A deviation from his requirements was sufficient cause for the
severest punishment to be visited upon the bodies and souls of the
offenders。 Thus the minds of the people were turned away from God to
fallible； erring； and cruel men； nay； more； to the prince of darkness
himself； who exercised his power through them。 Sin was disguised in a garb
of sanctity。 When the Scriptures are suppressed； and man comes to regard
himself as supreme； we need look only for fraud； deception； and debasing
iniquity。 With the elevation of human laws and traditions was manifest the
corruption that ever results from setting aside the law of God。
Those were days of peril for the church of Christ。 The faithful
standard…bearers were few indeed。 Though the truth was not left without
witnesses； yet at times it seemed that error and superstition would wholly
prevail； and true religion would be banished from the earth。 The gospel was
lost sight of； but the forms of religion were multiplied； and the people
were burdened with rigorous exactions。
They were taught not only to look to the pope as their mediator； but to
trust to works of their own to atone for sin。 Long pilgrimages； acts of
penance； the worship of relics； the
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erection of churches； shrines； and altars； the payment of large sums to the
churchthese and many similar acts were enjoined to appease the wrath of
God or to secure His favor； as if God were like men； to be angered at
trifles； or pacified by gifts or acts of penance！
Notwithstanding that vice prevailed； even among the leaders of the Roman
Church； her influence seemed steadily to increase。 About the close of the
eighth century； papists put forth the claim that in the first ages of the
church the bishops of Rome had possessed the same spiritual power which they
now assumed。 To establish this claim； some means must be employed to give it
a show of authority； and this was readily suggested by the father of lies。
Ancient writings were forged by monks。 Decrees of councils before unheard of
were discovered； establishing the universal supremacy of the pope from the
earliest times。 And a church that had rejected the truth greedily accepted
these deceptions。 （See Appendix。）
The few faithful builders upon the true foundation。 （1 Corinthians 3：10； 11）
were perplexed and hindered as the rubbish of false doctrine obstructed the
work。 Like the builders upon the wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah's day； some
were ready to say： 〃The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed； and
there is much rubbish； so that we are not able to build。〃 Nehemiah 4：10。
Wearied with the constant struggle against persecution； fraud； iniquity； and
every other obstacle that Satan could devise to hinder their progress； some
who had been faithful builders became disheartened； and for the sake of
peace and security for their property and their lives； they turned away from
the true foundation。 Others； undaunted by the opposition of their enemies；
fearlessly declared： 〃Be not ye afraid of them： remember the Lord； which is
great and terrible〃 （verse 14）； and they proceeded with the work； everyone
with his sword girded by his side。 Ephesians 6：17。
The same spirit of hatred and opposition to the truth has inspired the
enemies of God in every age； and the same
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vigilance and fidelity have been required in His servants。 The words of
Christ to the first disciples are applicable to His followers to the close
of time： 〃What I say unto you I say unto all； Watch。〃 Mark 13：37。
The darkness seemed to grow more dense。 Image worship became more general。
Candles were burned before images； and prayers were offered to them。 The
most absurd and superstitious customs prevailed。 The minds of men were so
completely controlled by superstition that reason itself seemed to have lost
its sway。 While priests and bishops were themselves pleasure…loving；
sensual； and corrupt； it could only be expected that the people who looked
to them for guidance would be sunken in ignorance and vice。
Another step in papal assumption was taken； when； in the eleventh century；
Pope Gregory VII proclaimed the perfection of the Roman Church。 Among the
propositions which he put forth was one declaring that the church had never
erred； nor would it ever err； according to the Scriptures。 But the Scripture
proofs did not accompany the assertion。 The proud pontiff also claimed the
power to depose emperors； and declared that