POPE, PAGANISM,SATAN, SUNDAY LAW AND SABBATH

The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still further 
disregard of Heaven's authority. Satan tampered with the fourth commandment 
also, and essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God had 
blessed and sanctified, [GEN. 2:2, 3.] and in its stead to exalt the 
festival observed by the heathen as "the venerable day of the sun." This 
change was not at first attempted openly. In the first centuries the true 
Sabbath had been kept by all Christians. They were jealous for the honor of 
God, and, believing that his law is immutable, they zealously guarded the 
sacredness of its precepts. But with great subtlety, Satan worked through 
his agents to bring about his object. That the attention of the people might 
be called to the Sunday, it was made a festival in honor of the resurrection 
of Christ. Religious services were held upon it; yet it was regarded as a 
day of recreation, the Sabbath being still sacredly observed.
     To prepare the way for the work which he designed to accomplish, Satan 
had led the Jews, before the advent of Christ, to load down the Sabbath with 
the most rigorous exactions, making its observance a burden. Now, taking 
advantage of the false light in which he had thus caused it to be regarded, 
he cast contempt upon it as a Jewish institution. While Christians continued 
to observe the Sunday as a joyous festival, he led them, in order to show 
their hatred of Judaism, to make the Sabbath a fast, a day of sadness and 
gloom.

     In the early part of the fourth century, the emperor Constantine issued 
a decree making Sunday a public festival throughout the Roman Empire. [SEE 
APPENDIX, NOTE 1.] The day of the sun was reverenced by his pagan subjects, 
and was honored by Christians; it was the emperor's policy to unite the 
conflicting interests of heathenism and Christianity. He was urged to do 
this by the bishops of the church, who, inspired by ambition, and thirst for 
power, perceived that if the same day was observed by both Christians and 
the heathen, it would promote the nominal acceptance of Christianity by 
pagans, and thus advance the power and glory of the church. But while 
Christians were gradually led to regard Sunday as possessing a degree of 
sacredness, they still held the true Sabbath as the holy of the Lord, and 
observed it in obedience to the fourth commandment.

     The arch-deceiver had not completed his work. He was resolved to gather 
the Christian world under his banner, and to exercise his power through his 
vicegerent, the proud pontiff who claimed to be the representative of 
Christ. Through half-converted pagans, ambitious prelates, and world-loving 
churchmen, he accomplished his purpose. Vast councils were held, from time 
to time, in which the dignitaries of the church were convened from all the 
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 THESS. 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 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 
THESS. 2:7, REVISED VERSION.] 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." [REV. 13:2; SEE APPENDIX, NOTE 2.] And now began the 1260 
years of papal oppression foretold in the prophecies of Daniel and the 
Revelation. [DAN. 7:25; REV. 13:5-7.] 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.]
                                                                             
55
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 
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 threescore days." 
[REV. 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 erection of churches, shrines, and 
altars, the payment of large sums to the church,--these 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 
Romish 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.

     The few faithful builders upon the true foundation [1 COR. 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." [NEH. 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; and they proceeded with the work, every one with his 
sword girded by his side.

     The same spirit of hatred and opposition to the truth has inspired the 
enemies of God in every age, and the same 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."

     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 her 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 Romish 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 next 
claimed the power to depose emperors, and declared that no sentence which he 
pronounced could be reversed by any one, but that it was his prerogative to 
reverse the decisions of all others.

     A striking illustration of the tyrannical character of this advocate of 
infallibility was given in his treatment of the German emperor, Henry IV. 
For presuming to disregard the pope's authority, this monarch was declared 
to be excommunicated and dethroned. Terrified by the desertion and threats 
of his own princes, who were encouraged in rebellion against him by the 
papal mandate, Henry felt the necessity of making his peace with Rome. In 
company with his wife and a faithful servant, he crossed the Alps in 
midwinter, that he might humble himself before the pope. Upon reaching the 
castle whither Gregory had withdrawn, he was conducted, without his guards, 
into an outer court, and there, in the severe cold of winter, with uncovered 
head and naked feet, and in a miserable dress, he awaited the pope's 
permission to come into his presence. Not until he had continued three days 
fasting and making confession, did the pontiff condescend to grant him 
pardon. Even then it was only upon condition that the emperor should await 
the sanction of the pope before resuming the insignia or exercising the 
power of royalty. And Gregory, elated with his triumph, boasted that it was 
his duty "to pull down the pride of kings." {GC88 57.4}

     How striking the contrast between the overbearing pride of this haughty 
pontiff and the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who represents himself as 
pleading at the door of the heart for admittance, that he may come in to 
bring pardon and peace, and who taught his disciples, "Whosoever will be 
chief among you, let him be your servant."

     The advancing centuries witnessed a constant increase of error in the 
doctrines put forth from Rome. Even before the establishment of the papacy, 
the teachings of heathen philosophers had received attention and exerted an 
influence in the church. Many who professed conversion still clung to the 
tenets of their pagan philosophy, and not only continued its study 
themselves, but urged it upon others as a means of extending their influence 
among the heathen. Serious errors were thus introduced into the Christian 
faith. Prominent among these was the belief in man's natural immortality and 
his consciousness in death. This doctrine laid the foundation upon which 
Rome established the invocation of saints and the adoration of the virgin 
Mary. From this sprung also the heresy of eternal torment for the finally 
impenitent, which was early incorporated into the papal faith.

     Then the way was prepared for the introduction of still another 
invention of paganism, which Rome named purgatory, and employed to terrify 
the credulous and superstitious multitudes. By this heresy is affirmed the 
existence of a place of torment, in which the souls of such as have not 
merited eternal damnation are to suffer punishment for their sins, and from 
which, when freed from impurity, they are admitted to Heaven.

     Still another fabrication was needed to enable Rome to profit by the 
fears and the vices of her adherents. This was supplied by the doctrine of 
indulgences. Full remission of sins, past, present, and future, and release 
from all the pains and penalties incurred, were promised to all who would 
enlist in the pontiff's wars to extend his temporal dominion, to punish his 
enemies, or to exterminate those who dared deny his spiritual supremacy. The 
people were also taught that by the payment of money to the church they 
might free themselves from sin, and also release the souls of their deceased 
friends who were confined in the tormenting flames. By such means did Rome 
fill her coffers, and sustain the magnificence, luxury, and vice of the 
pretended representatives of Him who had not where to lay his head.

     The scriptural ordinance of the Lord's supper had been supplanted by 
the idolatrous sacrifice of the mass. Papist priests pretended, by their 
senseless mummery, to convert the simple bread and wine into the actual body 
and blood of Christ. With blasphemous presumption, they openly claimed the 
power of "creating God, the Creator of all things." All Christians were 
required, on pain of death, to avow their faith in this horrible, 
Heaven-insulting heresy. Multitudes who refused were given to the flames.

     In the thirteenth century was established that most terrible of all the 
engines of the papacy,--the Inquisition. The prince of darkness wrought with 
the leaders of the papal hierarchy. In their secret councils, Satan and his 
angels controlled the minds of evil men, while unseen in the midst stood an 
angel of God, taking the fearful record of their iniquitous decrees, and 
writing the history of deeds too
 horrible to appear to human eyes. "Babylon the great" was "drunken with the 
blood of the saints." The mangled forms of millions of martyrs cried to God 
for vengeance upon that apostate power.

     Popery had become the world's despot. Kings and emperors bowed to the 
decrees of the Roman pontiff. The destinies of men, both for time and for 
eternity, seemed under his control. For hundreds of years the doctrines of 
Rome had been extensively and implicitly received, its rites reverently 
performed, its festivals generally observed. Its clergy were honored and 
liberally sustained. Never since has the Roman Church attained to greater 
dignity, magnificence, or power.

     The noontide of the papacy was the world's moral midnight. The Holy 
Scriptures were almost unknown, not only to the people, but to the priests. 
Like the Pharisees of old, the papist leaders hated the light which would 
reveal their sins. God's law, the standard of righteousness, having been 
removed, they exercised power without limit, and practiced vice without 
restraint. Fraud, avarice, and profligacy prevailed. Men shrank from no 
crime by which they could gain wealth or position. The palaces of popes and 
prelates were scenes of the vilest debauchery. Some of the reigning pontiffs 
were guilty of crimes so revolting that secular rulers endeavored to depose 
these dignitaries of the church as monsters too vile to be tolerated. For 
centuries Europe had made no progress in learning, arts, or civilization. A 
moral and intellectual paralysis had fallen upon Christendom.

     The condition of the world under the Romish power presented a fearful 
and striking fulfillment of the words of the prophet Hosea: "My people are 
destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I 
will also reject thee; . . . seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, 
I will also forget thy children." "There is no truth, nor mercy, nor 
knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and 
stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth 
blood." [HOSEA 4:6, 1, 2.] Such were the results of banishing the Word of 
God.