Part 21 (2/2)
”_Ques._--How prove you that?
”_Ans._--Because by keeping Sunday they acknowledge the church's power to ordain feasts and to command them under sin; and by not keeping the rest commanded by her, they deny that she has power.”
It is the doctrine taught in the standard catechisms of the Roman Church:
”_Question._--Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to inst.i.tute festivals of precept?
”_Answer._--Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her,--she could not have subst.i.tuted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Sat.u.r.day the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.”--_Keenan's ”Doctrinal Catechism,” p. 174._
Thus the Papacy proclaims itself the power that has _thought_ to change the precepts of the Most High.
On every count, the Roman Church is the counterpart of the little horn of Daniel 7. Before our eyes--in the common practice of Christendom--the commandment of G.o.d regarding sacred time is made void by the traditions of men.
The prophecy indicated that there would come a call for a reformation in this matter. Speaking of the warfare against the saints and the times and laws of the Most High, to be waged by the little-horn power, the angel said:
”They shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Dan. 7:25.
In other words, when the 1260 years should expire, we should expect, according to the prophecy, to see a breaking of the Papacy's persecuting power over believers, a spreading abroad of the Holy Scriptures, and a work of reformation that would lift up the truths of G.o.d's Word, and call believers to keep once again the holy time and the holy law of the Most High.
The prophecy of Daniel 7 is one of G.o.d's special messages for all men in these last days, picturing the rise and history of the Papacy, and warning all against accepting its perversions of G.o.d's truth or recognizing its attempted change in the law of the Most High. Thank G.o.d for the ”sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that s.h.i.+neth in a dark place.” We are to follow the Lord and obey him, not this power that has risen up in opposition to him.
The angel's interpretation in this chapter does not leave the apostasy triumphant:
”The judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.”
Then the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of the Most High, ”and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”
”O, how shall we stand that moment of searching, When all our sins those books reveal?
When from that court, each case decided, Shall be granted no appeal?”
[Ill.u.s.tration: CHRIST AND THE SCRIBES
”In vain they do wors.h.i.+p Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:9.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: CREATION
”In six days the Lord made heaven and earth,... and rested the seventh day.” Ex. 20:11.]
THE BIBLE SABBATH
”He answered and said, Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” Matt. 15:13.
The scribes had come to Jesus with the complaint, ”Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?” Jesus answered them with another question, ”Why do ye also transgress the commandment of G.o.d by your tradition?”
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