An animal, with two horns like a lamb, will be instrumental in forcing the whole world to pay homage to the Roman hierarchy, as presented in Revelation 13:11–14.
This beast represents the United States of America, which will pattern itself after the papal power. In other words, America will resemble the first beast (Revelation 13:1–3) in its antagonistic activities toward conscientious dissenters. Here are two statements found in the Spirit of Prophecy that clearly describe who the image of the beast is and how it will use persecution to accomplish its ends:
“The ‘image to the beast’ represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas.” –The Great Controversy, p. 445
“In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends.” –Ibid., p. 443
Apostate Protestants are today joining hands with the government in tearing down the fragile wall of separation between church and state. Soon the final battle will begin.
“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” –Ibid., p. 445
The two fundamental doctrines that unite mainline Protestant churches and the Catholic Church are the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness. Other divergent and controversial doctrines are lightly treated in ecumenical dialogues.
Not only is the World Council of Churches active in promoting unity among churches, but the Moral Majority and the Lord’s Day Alliance in America also have strong voices in legislative councils. The desire of these groups is to bring people back to God, back to prayer, and back to church. They realize that there needs to be a spiritual awakening among Americans. A strong appeal for Sunday worship is made by these organizations.
Other significant factors that help set the stage for a national Sunday law are the intensifying threat of terrorist attacks, the escalating crime rate, and the abortion crisis, as well as political corruption and terrible calamities of nature.
Advocates of a Sunday law believe a weekly day of rest would help restore stability and order to families and society as a whole. It may sound like a good idea, but it will lead to the loss of civil and religious freedom. Are we ready to face the consequences of a Sunday law? It has been predicted by the Word of God, and it will surely come to pass.
“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. 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: 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.” Revelation 13:15–17
Imagine the day when the United States will turn away from its established principles of civil and religious liberty and become a dictatorship! Force will be used to coerce people to trample on the seventh-day Sabbath and honor a counterfeit day by worshiping on it. Soon you and I will not be able to buy food and other necessities for our families. Selling a car, a bicycle, furniture, will be impossible.
How will we fare when our little children say, “Daddy, Mommy, I’m hungry. I want something to eat!” Will we give up our faith so that we can continue to provide for our families? How will we react when we are forced to leave our tidy apartments or comfortable homes to seek refuge in the mountains or caves? Will we leave our home—or submit to the government’s demands? The need to decide will soon become a sober reality. The issue will be, whom will we worship—God or Satan? America will not only use economic pressure but will also ultimately pass a death decree. It will be the final test for every living person on earth.
“History will be repeated. False religion will be exalted. The first day of the week, a common working day, possessing no sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image of Babylon. All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious sabbath. . . . The decree enforcing the worship of this day is to go forth to all the world.” –Last Day Events, p. 134–135
“As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 18
The Sunday law will be enacted first in the United States of America, then will sweep over the rest of the world, and will include all communist regimes, Islamic countries, and Buddhist, Hindu, and spiritualist communities. America will work jointly with the papacy to compel peoples’ consciences. This is definitely not God’s method of working. God uses LOVE, not force, to draw people to serve Him.
When the Sunday law will be enforced, what are Adventists advised to do? “The light given me by the Lord at a time when we were expecting just such a crisis as you seem to be approaching, was that when people were moved by a power from beneath to enforce Sunday observance, Seventh-day Adventists were to show their wisdom by refraining from their ordinary work on that day, devoting it to missionary effort.” –Last Day Events, p. 139–140
Henry Dering