By John Thiel, Second Angel’s Message, study 7, mp3

We have studied how Sunday has come into existence as a day of worship in ancient Babylon and thereafter.  Also how the Babylonish churches have developed a strong stand that they would make laws in reference to Sunday. In the third angel’s message we will see how those Sunday laws will be enacted.

Revelation 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 

Apostate Protestantism under the imagery of the beast has been identified as America. The beast that was killing and captivating received a fatal wound at the time when the papacy was receiving its attacks under Napoleon in 1798.  This other beast coming up out of the earth was America. America in its religious character would eventually be responsible to affect the world so the people would return their respect towards the first beast (the papacy) by the power of its technological wonders. By these America has had power enforcing its religious powers with the government. As the papacy did, America will do the same.

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

This is another reference to the papacy.  The image of the beast which made all the world worship the previous beast is connected with the previous beast and in turn with the dragon which was pagan religion. They worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast. This helps us to understand what we have been studying. We looked at Babylon in Nimrod’s time and there was the dragon – paganism. Paganism gave power to Rome and Rome in turn affected America and America returned the compliments back to the papacy again. It is all neatly connected here. Babylon does encompass the entire spectrum from Nimrod’s time through to the beast through to the image of the beast and that other beast of America. That is what the judgment reveals;

Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

A very comprehensive declaration of the mother and all her daughters. This is what history reveals. Babylon the great the mother of harlots. It starts at Nimrod’s time through to Rome and then through to America. The picture that we are looking at when we come to the subject of Sunday Laws is what is written in Revelation about America causes all to receive a mark.

Revelatoin 17:16 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.

This is the mark of the beast, this law that he causes everyone to receive the mark of the authority of the beast – ancient practices and modern practices. Sunday was the day of the veneration of the sun. Part of Nimrod’s worship was to do with Mithra – the worshippers held Sunday sacred and celebrated the birth of the sun on the 25 December.  The observance of Sunday as the Lord’s day is derived from Mithraism.  The argument is used that Sunday was chosen because of the resurrection on that day is not well supported. As a solar festival, Sunday was the sacred day of Mithra as Mithra was addressed as Dominus (which means Lord). Sunday was therefore the Lord’s day, long before Christian times. Constantine, speaking of Sunday says on the venerable day of the sun let magistrates and people residing in cities rest and let all workshops be closed. That is an ancient Sunday law.

These things are often overlooked. It is historically related to ancient Babylon’s worship. As sun worship had been passed on to all pagan religions in the time of Israel Baal was another name for the sun god.  Elijah had something to do with this worship in Israel. He was in conflict with Jezebel. Jezebel was a sun worshipper and identified by Jesus Christ as the papal church.

Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

The period of Thyatira was the period in which the papal church had dominance for 1260 years. He speaks of her as Jezebel. To all Christians in this time the Elijah message is relevant. We see the connection between sun worship and the Elijah message and God’s message for these last days in, today with papal sun worship.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Elijah who raised his voice against the prophets of Baal would again be raised up as the spirit of Elijah to cause the people to make a decision to worship Baal or God.

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Jezebel was the queen married to Ahab at this time. The people were mingling the worship of God and the worship of Baal. Is that not what we have been studying all the way through with the worship of the beast and his image? That Christianity (Babylon) is worshipping God in conjunction with Baal?  It is to do with sun worship which is to do with Sunday – the veneration of the sun.  The ire of Jezebel against Elijah is what is going to be met in the last days under the three angel’s messages.

1 Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

Ahab goes back to Jezebel, then Jezebel sent a message to Elijah. This is the ire of Jezebel. That is the parallel that the people of God that do not submit would be killed.

Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 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:

The call of Elijah to God’s people is which will you worship – Baal (sun) or the Creator and His day?

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angel’s, and in the presence of the Lamb:

This is the issue of the Elijah message for the last days. Elijah carried out the wrath of God against the Baal worshippers. Here is the same message. There will be destruction of Baal worshippers, those who worship the beast and the image of the beast and receive the mark. That is the Elijah message and the Elijah action.

Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

The faithful people have done what Elijah has done, not worshipped Baal. The message is make a choice, make a decision. Those that make that decision are being fought against, just as Jezebel fought against Elijah and wanted to kill him. He escaped, and so will God’s people in these very last moments. Is the mark of the beast related to Baal worship? Baal worship was sun worship. The woman, Jezebel, Rome, has a mark of authority. We are looking at a mark that is the authority of Babylon. Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine 1951 page 50 states;

Q. What is the 3^rd commandment (the biblical 4^th)?

A. Keep holy the Sabbath day.

Q. Which is the Sabbath day?

A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.

Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?

A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.

How prove you that the church has power to command feasts and holy days? By the very act of changing the Sabbath to Sunday that Protestants allow of and therefore they fondly contradict themselves by allowing and keeping most other feasts commanded by the same church. Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine 1951 page 50

We see vividly that the Catholic Church has gained its identification and mark of authority by changing the Sabbath to the Sunday which they acknowledge has nothing to do with the Bible declaration.

The Protestants who accept the Bible as the only rule of faith and religion should by all means go back to the observance of the Sabbath. The fact that they do not , but on the contrary, observe Sunday, disqualifies them in the eyes of every thinking man. We Catholics do not accept the Bible as the only rule of faith, besides the Bible we have the living church, the authority of the church as a rule to guide us. We say.. this church has the right to change the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, and hence, we accept her change from Saturday to Sunday. We frankly say, Yes, the church made this change, made this law, as she made many other laws, for instance, the Friday observance, the abstinence of the priesthood, mixed marriages, the regulation of Catholic marriages and a thousand other laws. We also say, that of all Protestants, the Seventh Day Adventists are the only group that reason correctly and are consistent with their teachings. It is always somewhat laughable to see the Protestant churches in legislature demanding the observance of Sunday of which there is nothing in the Bible. Catholic Extension magazine under Pope Pious 12^th.

We see then the Catholic Church is open about having authority to change the law, but it’s not biblical authority. Church legislation is regarded as rebellion if you don’t obey it.  If the Bible doesn’t say it, Protestantism doesn’t believe it, and Catholicism is now picking up on the mark of the beast by keeping Sunday.

Sunday is that mark of authority. Therefore we derive the understanding that Sunday is the mark of the beast. As the Sabbath is the identification is God’s authority, the mark of the change of that is the mark of the authority of the beast. When that command is given they will cause everyone to receive a mark in their forehead or hand.  It will be applied in the same way as it has been applied all the way through. The nations under the dragon, the beast and Protestantism are brought to submit to the lifestyles that lead to that. That is what is so subtle.  People think they can wait till the time when a law is made not realising that the way it has been done is under this subtle procedure of lifestyle acceptance. The ancient practices being adopted today we think are quite all right to do.  Things like Christmas, Easter, the practices of the pagan aspects of Egyptian mythology, sciences and universities we think all acceptable.  People are conditioned to go along with those things. This lifestyle causes us to become attached. We read this principle;

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message , but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them. GC 608.2

Apostate Protestantism will slip right into the ranks of Sabbath keepers. How does that happen? By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit. By gradual creeping compromise they partake of its spirit and view matters in nearly the same light as all the others around them. Then when the final test is brought it’s easy to change as well.

It is now that we must overcome pride, passion, and spiritual slothfulness. It is now that we must awake and make determined effort for symmetry of character. Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. We are in a most trying position, waiting, watching for our Lord’s appearing. The world is in darkness. But ye, brethren,. says Paul, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. It is ever God’s purpose to bring light out of darkness, joy out of sorrow, and rest out of weariness for the waiting, longing soul. What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast.  5T 216

If we receive the worldly mold when the mark of the beast (Sunday Law) is caused to be put into place they will naturally fall into place because they have been molded beforehand. Sunday Laws have to do with lifestyle conditioning. It’s a cause to affect concept.

5T 213 brought into the time of trouble such as never was. Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew their Master’s will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had not corresponding works.. By their lack of devotion and piety, and their failure to reach a high religious standard, they make other souls contented with their position.

If we don’t receive the seal of God we will receive the mark of the beast.  We are to be preparing to not be affected by the Sunday developments, by the conditionings that has been seen over the period of history. Sunday was brought in as a feast day and Sabbath was a fast day of misery. This kind of method has subtly been enacted on the people since the first, second, and third angel’s messages.

Amen.