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"(79)
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."(80) And now began the 1260 years of papal oppression
foretold in the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation.(81) 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 heads-man's axe. Now were fulfilled
the words of Jesus: "Ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren,
and kins-folks, 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."(82)
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."(83)

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 loo