Facts of Faith

“That No Man Might Buy Or Sell”

“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark.” Revelation 13:17. We have seen that the Papacy has adopted Sunday as “a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority,” and the Protestant organizations have also adopted this mark, as the following quotations show: FAFA 312.1

“This day [Sunday] is set apart for divine worship and preparation for another life. It is the test of all religion.” — Dr. W. W. Everts, in Elgin (Ill.) “Sunday Convention,” November, 1887. FAFA 312.2

“When the people, through their representative, legalize the first day of the week as a day of rest and of worship for those who choose so to observe it, it is a sign of the Christian nation.” — From a sermon reported in ” Christian Oracle,” January 12, 1893. FAFA 312.3

The Puritans in the United States made Sunday “a sign between them and the heathen world around, and, to a large extent, it has continued to be a mark of American religion to the present day.” — Rev. J. G. Lorimer, in “Christian Treasury”; all quoted in The Signs of the Times, April 1, 1908. FAFA 312.4

When these large religious organizations, that are so vitally interested in Sunday enforcement, combine in their efforts, it is not remarkable that they should attempt to deprive dissenters of their natural rights of attaining their livelihood, for we have seen that this combination is making “an image to the beast” (Revelation 13:14-17); and the beast, or Papacy, did this very thing. At the Synod of Tholouse, A. D. 1163, it made the following decrees against Sabbath-keepers: FAFA 312.5

“The bishops and priests [were] ‘to take care, and to forbid, under the pain of excommunication, every person from presuming to give reception, or the least assistance to the followers of this heresy, which first began in the country of Tholouse, whenever they shall be discovered. Neither were they to have any dealings with them in buying or selling; that by being thus deprived of the common assistance of life, they might be compelled to repent of the evil of their way. Whosoever shall dare to contravene this order, let them be excommunicated, as a partner with them in their guilt. As many of them as can be found, let them be imprisoned by the Catholic princes, and punished with the forfeiture of all their substance.”’ FAFA 312.6

Stirred by this decree, King Ildefonsus of Arragon banished all Waldenses in 1194, “He adds: ‘If any, from this day forwards, shall presume to receive into their houses, the aforesaid Waldenses and Inzabatati, or other heretics, of whatsoever profession they be, or to hear, in any place, their abominable preachings, or give them food, or do them any kind office whatsoever; let him know, that he shall incur the indignation of Almighty God and ours; that he shall forfeit all his goods, without the benefit of appeal, and be punished as though guilty of high treason.” — “History of the Inquisition,” Philip Limborch,” pp. 88, 89. London: 1816. FAFA 313.1

That the “image to the beast will actually duplicate the work of the Papacy also in this respect is seen from the following utterance, among many others we could quote: Dr. Bascom Robins, in a sermon on the ” Decalogue,” preached in Burlington, Kansas, Sunday, January 31, 1904, said: FAFA 313.2

“In the Christian decalogue the first day was made the Sabbath by divine appointment. But there is a class of people who will not keep the Christian Sabbath unless they are forced to do so. But that can be easily done. We have twenty million of men, besides women and children, in this country, who want this country to keep the Christian Sabbath. If we would say we will not sell anything to them, we will not buy anything from them, we mill not work for them, or hire them to work for us, the thing could be wiped out, and all the world would keep the Christian Sabbath.” FAFA 313.3

God, who knows the end from the beginning, has foretold that they would do this very thing, so “that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark.” Revelation 13:17. But will God forsake His faithful children in this trying hour? Oh, no! “He that touches you touches the apple of His eye.” Zechariah 2:8. As a loving Father He will step forward to the protection of His children. (Psalm 103:13) And His enemies will find that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31. FAFA 313.4

When the world refuses to permit God’s people to “buy or sell,” He will send drought and famine, so that the wicked will have little or nothing to sell, and will be unable to buy because their money will be worthless. The seven last plagues will be God’s answer to man’s challenge, as the ten plagues of Egypt were His answer to the haughty challenge of a Pharaoh against His message in ancient time. (Exodus 4:22, 23; 5:2) With men suffering from sores and fever, and no water to drink, while the sun is scorching them with great heat (Revelation 16:1-9), causing the most terrible drought the world has ever witnessed (Joel 1:10-20), the earth will be in a deplorable condition (Isaiah 24:1-6), and people “shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king, and their God (Isaiah 8:21, 22). And they will turn against the rich (James 5:1-5), who will “cast their silver in the streets” to appease the angry mob, but “their gold shall be removed” (Ezekiel 7:19). They hoarded millions, and cornered markets, while working people were suffering, till at last the storm has gathered around their well-filled palaces, and too late they make an attempt to save themselves from the long-pent-up wrath. FAFA 314.1

The laws that deprive God’s people of their rights, and thus force them out of the cities, seem to them a calamity, and many surrender the truth to support their families. But what appears to be such a calamity is a blessing in disguise, for it drives them out of the cities in time to escape this terrible labor-revolution. Some day we shall find that no hardship comes to God’s loyal children but what is absolutely necessary to their salvation. Those who make it their undeviating practice to put God’s will first in all their plans and habits of living, can safely trust Him for the rest. (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19; Isaiah 43:2) Driven from the cities, they flee to mountain fastnesses and solitary places, where angels supply their needs, as Elijah was fed. “Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.” Isaiah 33:16. Oh, we have a wonderful God. FAFA 314.2

Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Psalm 2:12. God’s loyal children will be fed by angels, while the world is starving. The fondest hopes of God’s people will be realized: “Thine eyes shall see the king in His beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.” Isaiah 33:17, 18. No pen can describe that thrill of joy when we shall meet our dear Saviour and our loved ones, and be taken home to that beautiful land that knows no heartaches, no farewell scenes, no funeral trains. (John 14:1-3) FAFA 315.1

The great question for each one of us to settle is whether we will have our citizenship papers in order when King Jesus shall come to claim His own. The reader might ask what papers are required for citizenship in that kingdom. To answer that question satisfactorily, we must remember that sin has caused all the anguish, sorrow, and trouble in this world, and that God’s heart of infinite love has been wrung with pain for suffering humanity. He has therefore decided that sin, with all its trail of woe, shall not be permitted to enter His eternal kingdom, and that all who enter that blissful home must part company with sin. FAFA 315.2

But sin is inbred in man, and forms a part of his very character, so that he cannot, by his own efforts, extricate himself from its toils. (Jeremiah 13:23; Romans 7:15, 18-24) Christ, however, stands ready to free us from our sins. He will deliver us if we will let Him do it. (Matthew 1:21; John 1:12) But He will not use force, even in things that are for our own good, for He has created man a free moral agent, and respects his choice. (Isaiah 1:18; Revelation 22:17; 1 John 1:7, 9) A complete surrender to Christ is therefore necessary, that He may change our desires, affections, and characters so we can enjoy the society of the pure and unselfish inhabitants of that happy land. FAFA 315.3

[Index missing, pp. 316-320] FAFA 316.1