Lesson 7

2.What was the nature of the power, as represented by the preceding beast?
3.By what means did that power enforce its decrees? Ans. The church used the civil power for the propagation of its dogmas.
4.If the two-horned beast makes an image to the preceding one, then what will it do? Ans. It will have the church dominate the State, and employ the civil power to enforce its dogmas.
5.Is there any prospect of the United States doing such a work? Ans. Already an influential organization, called the National Reform Association, has succeeded in having bills brought before the National Congress, which, if passed, will secure that result.
6.On what theory does this organization base its work? Ans. "Every government, by equitable laws, is a government of God; a republic thus governed is of him, and is as truly and really a theocracy as the commonwealth of Israel."—Resolution in Cincinnati National Reform Convention.
7.In view of such belief, what do they propose to do? See note A.
8.What do the National Reformers and their allies, the American Sunday Union, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, especially demand of the government? Ans. To stop all Sunday trains, discontinue all Sunday papers, and prohibit all manner of Sunday labor, so that their "devotions may not be hindered."
9.Why do these people wish to compel others to keep Sunday? Ans. Because "he who does not keep the Sabbath (Sunday) does not worship God."—Elgin Sunday Convention, November, 1887.
10.But if one worships by resting on the seventh day, will that be satisfactory to them? See note B.
11.Then what is the object of their Sunday laws? Ans. To compel men to worship according to their ideas.
12.If men yield to such legislation, what do they really worship? .
13.Whose servants does that make them? .
14.What will this power attempt to enforce on all, to designate them as its servants? .
15.What decree will it issue against those who do not yield to its requirements? .
16.What sentiment is advanced by the National Reformers on this point? See note C.
17.Will all yield to the demands of this power? .
18.To what do they ascribe their deliverance? .

Notes

Note A.—"To secure such an amendment to the Constitution of the United States as shall suitably express our national acknowledgment of Almighty God as the source of all authority in civil government; of the Lord Jesus Christ as the ruler of nations; and of his revealed will as of supreme authority, and thus indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of the government on an undeniably legal basis in the fundamental law of the land."—Art. 2 of National Reform Constitution.

Note B.—"Let a man be what he may, Jew, seventh-day observer, or some other denomination, or those who do not believe in the Christian Sabbath—let the law apply to everyone, that there shall be no public desecration of the first day of the week, the Christian Sabbath, the day of rest for the nation. They may hold any other day of the week as sacred, and observe it, but that day which is the one day in seven for the nation at large, let that not be publicly desecrated by anyone, by officer in the government, or by private citizen, high or low, rich or poor."—Dr. McAllister, editor Christian Statesman.

Note C.—At the Lakeside National Reform Convention of 1887, one said during the discussion of the Sunday-law question, "There is a law in the State of Arkansas enforcing Sunday observance upon the people, and the result has been that many good persons have not only been imprisoned, but have lost their property and their lives." To this Dr. McAllister replied, "It is better that a few should suffer than the whole nation should lose its Sabbath."

Bible texts in this lesson

Revelation 13:12 · Romans 6:16 · Revelation 13:16 · Revelation 13:17 · Revelation 13:15 · Revelation 15:2 · Revelation 15:3

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