A striking illustration of Rome ' s policy toward those who disagree with her was given in the long and bloody persecution of the Waldenses , some of whom were observers of the Sabbath . Others suffered in a similar manner for their fidelity to the fourth commandment . The history of the churches of Ethiopia and Abyssinia is especially significant . Amid the gloom of the Dark Ages , the Christians of Central Africa were lost sight of and forgotten by the world , and for many centuries they enjoyed freedom in the exercise of their faith . But at last Rome learned of their existence , and the emperor of Abyssinia was soon beguiled into an acknowledgment of the pope as the vicar of Christ . Other concessions followed .
An edict was issued forbidding the observance of the Sabbath under the severest penalties . ( See Michael Geddes , Church History of Ethiopia , pages 311 , 312 .) But papal tyranny soon became a yoke so galling that the Abyssinians determined to break it from their necks . After a terrible struggle the Romanists were banished from their dominions , and the ancient faith was restored . The churches rejoiced in their freedom , and they never forgot the lesson they had learned concerning the deception , the fanaticism , and the despotic power of Rome . Within their solitary realm they were content to remain , unknown to the rest of Christendom .
The churches of Africa held the Sabbath as it was held by the papal church before her complete apostasy . While they kept the seventh day in obedience to the commandment of God , they abstained from labor on the Sunday in conformity to the custom of the church . Upon obtaining supreme power , Rome had trampled upon the Sabbath of God to exalt her own ; but the churches of Africa , hidden for nearly a thousand years , did not share in this apostasy . When brought under the sway of Rome , they were forced to set aside the true and exalt the false sabbath ; but no sooner had they regained their independence than they returned to obedience to the fourth commandment . ( See Appendix .)
These records of the past clearly reveal the enmity of Rome toward the true Sabbath and its defenders , and the means which she employs to honor the institution of her creating . The word of God teaches that these scenes are to be repeated as Roman Catholics and Protestants shall unite for the exaltation of the Sunday . The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns shall cause " the earth and them which dwell therein " to worship the papacy --there symbolized by the beast " like unto a leopard ." The beast with two horns is also to say " to them that dwell on the earth , that they should make an image to the beast ;" and , furthermore , it is to command all , " both small and great , rich and poor , free and bond ," to receive the mark of the beast . Revelation 13:11-16 . It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns , and that this
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