In Defense of the Faith

The Mark of the Beast

As to whether or not the Catholic Church claims that the act of changing the Sabbath to Sunday is a “mark,” or sign, of her power in religious matters, it is necessary for the reader only to review so me of the quotations from Catholic authors already cited. Let us note again the first two that were given: DOF 196.4

“You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify.”—Faith of Our Fathers, p. 111. DOF 196.5

“Question. How prove you that the church bath power to command feasts and holy days? DOF 197.1

“Answer. By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday.”—Abridgment of Christian Doctrine, p. 58. DOF 197.2

Here the change of the Sabbath is definitely set forth a “mark of authority.” The “act” is a mark of her ecclesiastical power. Her power to command feasts, etc., proved by what she did to the Sabbath. Therefore, when seventh-day Adventists refer to Sunday keeping as the “mark” of the Papacy, or of the beast of Revelation 13, which represents the papal church, they are only agreeing with what the Catholics claim for themselves. DOF 197.3

Mr. Canright in his defense of a Sunday Sabbath wrote: DOF 197.4

“This Advent mark of the beast is an absurdity and only scarecrow. Don’t be frightened.”—The Lord’s Day, p. 239. DOF 197.5

But let it be carefully noted that against this “mark” God has sent to men the most fearful warning that is to be found in the Scriptures: DOF 197.6

“The third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same hall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9, 10. DOF 197.7

There will be a company of people on earth when Jesus comes who will have gotten the victory over this apostate power, spoken of under the symbol of a beast, and also over his mark. Instead of drinking of the wine of God’s wrath, they will be transported to the kingdom of our God, where John, in holy vision, saw them and heard them singing the song of the redeemed: DOF 197.8

“I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on’ the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.” Revelation 15:2, 3. DOF 198.1

The sincere wish of the author is that in the day of God every reader of this volume may be found numbered among that glad, triumphant company. DOF 198.2