3. The Apostasy. 53
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” 79 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.” 80 And now began the 1260 years of papal oppression foretold in the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. 81 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 heads-man ' s axe. Now were fulfilled the words of Jesus:“ Ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kins-folks, 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.” 82 Persecution opened upon the faithful with greater fury than ever before, and the world became a vast battle-field. For hundreds of years the church of [ 055 ]
79 2 Thess. 2:7, R. V. 80 Rev. 13:2; see Appendix. 81 Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:5-7. 82 Luke 21:16, 17.