Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: SMTF
Program Code: SMTF000005
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00:35 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
00:38 Father in heaven, thank you once again 00:40 for bringing us together. 00:42 We thank You for Your word. 00:45 It would be a terrible thing to live in this world 00:47 without any guidance as to where everything is going. 00:52 We ask, Father, that as we study the events 00:54 that transpired between the year 1864 and the 1890s 01:01 that Your Holy Spirit will be with us and show us 01:04 what can happen if the circumstances are right. 01:10 We ask, Father, that you will help us to realize 01:12 that we're living in the last moments of time. 01:14 And we thank you, Father, 01:16 for being with us and for answering our prayer. 01:18 For we ask it in the precious name of Jesus, amen. 01:23 In our last study together we noticed 01:27 the prophetic dimension of Matthew chapter 24. 01:32 We dedicated a significant amount of time to study 01:36 the abomination of desolation in prophecy. 01:40 And we noticed that there was a definite connection 01:43 between the eagles of Rome 01:46 and the eagle which was adopted for the state of arms 01:51 of the United States of America. 01:53 We also noted that according to Bible prophecy, 01:58 eventually, someday, we believe soon, 02:01 there's going to be in the United States 02:04 a National Sunday law 02:07 mandating the observance of Sunday as the day of rest. 02:12 And this will be the abomination spoken of in prophecy 02:16 which eventually will lead to desolation. 02:19 Another way of expressing it 02:21 is that national apostasy will lead to national ruin. 02:27 Now many of those who are here today probably are saying, 02:32 "This could never happen in the United States of America." 02:36 This is the land of the free and the home of the brave. 02:39 This is the land that has the greatest Constitution 02:43 in the history of the world. 02:45 We are the people of the First Amendment. 02:47 Congress shall make no law respecting and establishment 02:50 of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. 02:54 The fact is, folks, that we don't have to speculate 02:57 about whether this can happen or not. 03:00 Because in the 1880s we have an experience 03:06 in the history of the United States 03:08 where something like this almost transpired 03:12 and that's what we want to study about today. 03:15 We want to go back to 1864 and we want to study 03:21 through the end of the 19th century 03:24 to see how these events transpired in our history. 03:28 And in this way we're gonna see 03:30 that this is not only possible but it becomes very probable. 03:37 Now in order to prepare for what we're gonna study today 03:40 we need to remember that there were 03:42 two sieges of the city of Jerusalem. 03:45 There was the first siege by Cestius Gallus. 03:50 He surrounded the city in the year '66. 03:53 The Romans placed their standards in the ground 03:56 and they worshipped them. 03:57 But for some unexplainable reason, 03:59 we know it was divine providence, 04:02 Cestius Gallus withdrew 04:04 and the Jews followed the Roman armies. 04:07 And there were many casualties among the Romans 04:10 when they suddenly left Jerusalem. 04:13 Of course, Christians who were in the city 04:16 saw that as the sign that they were supposed to flee. 04:20 And so the Christians in the city, 04:22 those who were attached to the Lord Jesus Christ left. 04:27 A while later, Titus, 04:30 the new General of the Roman army 04:32 returned to the city of Jerusalem 04:34 and surrounded it once again. 04:37 And this time there was no withdrawal. 04:40 The destruction of the city of Jerusalem came. 04:43 I believe that the same thing is going to transpire 04:47 in the United States of America. 04:49 I believe that what happened in 1888 04:52 would be parallel to the first siege of Jerusalem. 04:55 It was a sign to God's people that this was going 04:59 to eventually take place in the United States. 05:02 And that we should prepare for momentous events 05:06 that are gonna take place in the future. 05:09 Now I'd like to give you a few of the sources that I've used 05:13 in preparing the material for our study today. 05:17 And I'll go through this quickly. 05:19 There are some sources from the writings of Ellen White. 05:22 She lived during this period. She actually wrote 05:25 "The Great Controversy" during this period. 05:28 So we would need to read from her writings 05:30 especially the chapter titled "The Impending Conflict" 05:34 in the book, "The Great Controversy." 05:36 Also, volume 5 of the "Testimonies," 05:39 pages 711 through 718. 05:43 Besides this there are some other sources. 05:46 We have the book "Civil Government and Religion" 05:49 by A.T. Jones who had to go and testify 05:53 before the education committee of the United States Senate. 05:57 Also a book of essays written by A.T. Jones and Pastor Waggoner. 06:04 The title of that book is "Views of National Reform." 06:08 And then finally the last source I'd like to mention is the book 06:11 "National Sunday Law" written by A.T. Jones. 06:14 Actually it's a transcript of his testimony 06:18 before Congress appealing to Congress to not impose 06:24 this Sunday law which was being proposed. 06:28 Incidentally, A.T. Jones says in his book 06:31 that Senator Blair who was the one who was pushing 06:35 for this national Sunday law interrupted him many, many times 06:40 during the period in which he was giving his speech. 06:43 Now what I want to do is I want to speak 06:46 about what transpired back then. 06:49 And for this I'm gonna have to read several statements. 06:52 I hope that you don't get bored 06:53 listening to all these statements 06:55 but I feel that I need to read 06:57 what the religious leaders of that day were actually saying 07:02 about the proposed amendment 07:03 to the Constitution of the United States. 07:06 However, before I read these quotations 07:08 I need to tell you something 07:10 about the National Reform Movement. 07:13 This organization was established in the year 1864. 07:18 And the avowed purpose was to amend the Constitution 07:23 so that the Constitution would say 07:25 that the United States is a Christian nation. 07:28 Also it was the purpose 07:30 of the National Reform organization 07:33 to have Congress write a national Sunday law 07:38 and impose it by law 07:40 upon the citizens of the United States. 07:44 The first National Reform convention 07:48 was held in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, 07:51 January 27 and 28 of the year 1864. 07:56 According to the sources there were 07:58 120 vice-presidents of this organization. 08:03 It kind of makes me remember the 120 satraps 08:07 in Daniel chapter 6 that ended up 08:10 throwing Daniel in the lion's den. 08:12 By the way, they had a publication, 08:15 the National Reform Movement had a publication 08:17 called "The Christian Statesman." 08:20 And this is a very, very interesting publication 08:24 because it tells what their objectives were 08:27 and what their methods were as well. 08:31 The "Christian Statesman" for December 24, 1885 08:37 said this about those who composed 08:40 the National Reform Movement in that year. 08:43 It stated that there were 15 college professors, 08:46 16 college presidents, 3 ex-governors, 08:50 7 justices of Supreme Courts, 5 judges of superior courts, 08:55 2 judges of the United States District court, 08:58 1 judge of the United States Circuit court 09:01 with many, many others who you would address 09:04 as your honors, reverends, and doctors of divinity. 09:10 Now the National Sunday law was actually proposed 09:13 as a Bill to the Senate of the United States 09:16 by Senator Henry W. Blair of New Hampshire. 09:20 It was Bill number 2983. 09:23 And the idea was to write a National Sunday law 09:29 that would be imposed upon 09:31 the citizens of the United States. 09:34 In our next lecture we're gonna notice that 09:36 something else was happening in 1888. 09:39 There was a famous Congress 09:41 of the Seventh-day Adventist church 09:43 being held in the city of Minneapolis. 09:45 This is not a coincidence 09:47 as we're gonna study in our next lecture. 09:50 While God was trying to draw His people together, 09:54 Satan was working to draw his people together. 09:58 In other words, the battle lines were being drawn 10:01 in that very year, the year 1888. 10:05 By the way, going beyond a little bit, 10:07 a little beyond 1888, in 1889, 10:12 the National Catholic Congress which met in Baltimore 10:17 resolved officially to unite with Protestants 10:21 to secure proper Sunday observance. 10:24 In the year 1892, the United States Supreme Court 10:29 declared that the United States is a Christian nation. 10:34 Allow me to say that I don't believe 10:36 the United States is a Christian nation. 10:38 I believe that the United States is a nation 10:41 composed mostly of Christians. 10:44 It's very different to say that it's a Christian nation 10:47 than to say that it's a nation 10:48 composed mostly of Christians. 10:50 It is a nation that is based on divine principles. 10:55 The principle that we need to render 10:58 unto Caesar that which is Caesar's 10:59 and unto God that which is God's, 11:02 upon the idea of full civil and religious liberty, 11:06 upon the idea of the separation of church and State. 11:09 These are Christian principles upon which the nation is built. 11:13 However, the nation is not as such a Christian nation. 11:19 Finally this led--this proposal of a national Sunday law 11:24 led A.T. Jones to be sent by the Seventh-day Adventist 11:28 denomination to testify before the education 11:31 and labor committee of the 50th United States Congress. 11:35 This happened on December 13, 1888. 11:39 And I believe that the arguments 11:41 that were presented by A.T. Jones 11:43 were so persuasive and so powerful 11:46 that the National Sunday Law was placed on hold. 11:51 Now let's examine a few things 11:53 that the National Reformers were saying 11:56 as we move from 1864 to the 1890s. 12:00 First of all, it's important to notice 12:03 that Catholics were behind this religious amendment, 12:07 this amendment to make 12:09 the United States a Christian nation 12:10 and this amendment to have a National Sunday Law. 12:14 In an Encyclical Letter in 1885, Pope Leo XIII said this, 12:21 All Catholics should do all in their power 12:25 to cause the constitutions of States, 12:31 and legislation to be modeled 12:34 on the principles of the true church, 12:36 and all Catholic writers and journalists should 12:40 never lose sight, for an instant, 12:42 from the view of the above prescription. 12:46 Also the famous Henry Cardinal Gibbons 12:50 had this to say, 12:51 "I am most happy to add my name 12:54 to those of the millions of others 12:57 who are laudably contending against the violation 13:01 of the Christian Sabbath by unnecessary labor, 13:05 and who are endeavoring to promote 13:07 its decent and proper observance by judicious legilsation." 13:13 So Gibbons is saying add my name 13:15 to the list of those who want a national Sunday law. 13:19 Something very interesting that was taking place 13:21 during this period is that the ministers 13:24 that belonged to the National Reform Movement 13:27 actually wanted to join church and State. 13:31 They wanted to amend the Constitution 13:33 to make this possible. 13:35 For example, Jonathan Edwards 13:38 at the New York City convention which was held 13:40 on February 26 and 27 of 1873 said this 13:45 about what the ministers and the churches wanted. 13:48 "We want State and religion, and we are going to have it... 13:54 The Christian oath and Christian morality 13:58 shall have in this land an undeniable legal basis.' 14:04 We use this word religion in its proper sense, 14:07 as meaning a man's personal relation of faith 14:10 and obedience to God." 14:12 So what he's saying is that State and religion 14:16 need to be placed on an undeniable legal basis. 14:21 By the way, the word legal means "by law." 14:25 Notice what Reverend M.A. Gault had to say, 14:28 another one of the great leaders of this movement. 14:31 He says, speaking about all of the malefic 14:34 influences in society like the problems with liquor 14:37 and immorality and materialism 14:40 and the problems with the Civil War, he said this, 14:43 "Our remedy for all these malefic influences 14:48 is to have the Government simply set up the moral law, 14:54 and recognize God's authority behind it, 14:57 and lay its hand on any religion that does not conform to it." 15:04 Dr. Mandeville who was another 15:07 one of the great leaders of this movement said this, 15:10 "When the church of God awakes and does its duty on one side, 15:16 and the States on the other, 15:19 we shall have not further trouble in this matter. 15:23 Of the matter of the desecration of Sunday 15:26 which is-- is what he's talking about. 15:29 Sam Small who was secretary 15:31 of the National Prohibition Convention held in Indianapolis 15:35 in the year 1888 preached a sermon 15:38 in Kansas City in January of 1888 15:42 where he said this, "I want to see the day come 15:47 when the church shall be arbiter of all legislation," 15:52 Are you catching that? 15:55 He wants to "see the day 15:56 when the church shall be the arbiter of all legislation, 16:00 State, national, and municipal. 16:04 When the great churches of the country 16:07 can come together harmoniously," 16:10 notice, when the churches of the country 16:13 can come together harmoniously 16:16 "and issue their edict, 16:20 and the legislative powers will respect it, 16:24 and enact it into laws." 16:27 Not much camouflage there, is there, 16:29 about what their motivations were? 16:32 Regarding the duties 16:33 of the State Reverend J.M. Foster said this, 16:39 "That a constitutional provision be made 16:42 for recognizing God as King of nations, 16:45 that a constitutional recognition be made 16:49 that the States is the divinely appointed keeper 16:52 or the moral law, that a constitutional, 16:55 provision be made detailing 16:58 the moral and religious qualifications of those 17:01 who would occupy an office of trust, 17:04 that the nation needed to make a covenant with God, 17:08 and that the nation must guard and protect the church... 17:11 by supressing all public violation of the moral law, 17:15 by maintaining a system of public schools, 17:18 indoctrinating their youth in morality and virtue, 17:22 by exempting church property from taxation, 17:26 and by providing her funds out of the public treasury 17:30 for carrying on her aggressive work at home 17:34 and in the foreign field. 17:36 Notice, what they wanted the government to do? 17:38 What the church should do? 17:40 they wanted the State to perform 17:43 At the Cleveland National Convention 17:46 we find this resolution which was adopted, 17:49 "Resolved, That we re-affirm that this Religious Amendment, 17:55 instead of infringing on any individual's 17:58 right of conscience, or tending in the least degree 18:02 to a union of Chruch and State will afford 18:05 the fullest security against a corrupting church establishment, 18:12 and form the strongest safeguard of both 18:14 the civil and religious liberties of all citizens. 18:18 One is left to ask how would this be possible 18:23 if you're declaring the United States 18:24 to be a Christian nation 18:26 and if by law you're obligating everyone 18:30 to keep the first day of the week as a day of rest. 18:33 Dr. McAllister, another one of the leaders of this movement 18:37 in Lakeside Ohio in July of 1887 had this to say, 18:43 "Let a man be what he may,-Jew, 18:46 seventh-day observer of some other denomination, 18:49 or those who do not believe in the Christian Sabbath, 18:52 let the law apply to every one, 18:55 that there shall be no pubiic desecration 18:58 of the first day of the wek, the Christian Sabbath, 19:01 the day of rest for the nation. 19:04 They may hold any other day of the week as sacred, 19:06 and observe it, but that day 19:08 which is the one day in seven for the nation 19:11 at large, let that not be publicly desecrated by any one, 19:16 by officer in the Government, or by private citizen, 19:20 high or low, rich or poor." 19:23 Do you notice that a couple of times 19:25 in this statement he speaks about the day of rest 19:29 for the nation at large? 19:31 This in other words was a proposal 19:33 of a National Sunday law by the churches. 19:36 And the State was supposed to rewrite the Constitution 19:40 and mandate the observance of this day as the day of rest. 19:46 In the Elgin Sunday Law Convention, 19:49 Dr. Mandeville of Chicago used the example 19:52 of Nehemiah in the Old Testament 19:55 to say what the State should do. 19:57 These are his words. 19:59 "The merchants of Tyre insisted upon selling goods 20:03 near the temple on the Sabbath, and Nehemiah 20:07 compelled the officers of the law 20:10 to do their duty and stop it. 20:13 So we can compel the officers of the law to do their duty." 20:19 Does that sound like the voice of the dragon? 20:23 And this is not happening in this day and age. 20:26 This was happening back in the 1870s and 1880s. 20:32 Notice that the national Sunday law mass meeting 20:37 held in Hamilton hall in Oakland, California in fact, 20:41 January of 1887, Dr. Briggs of Napa, California 20:46 spanked the political leaders for not imposing 20:49 a national Sunday law as a day of rest. 20:52 He said to them, 20:53 "You relegate moral instruction to the church, 20:57 and then let all go as they please on Sunday, 21:01 so that we cannot get at them." 21:03 In other words, you let them 21:05 go shopping and ride the train and read the newspapers, 21:08 as we're gonna notice in a few moments, on Sunday 21:11 and that way people don't come to church 21:14 and we don't have access to them. 21:15 So he's saying, you political leaders 21:17 need to give a national Sunday law 21:18 so that the people are forced to come to church 21:21 so that we have access to them 21:23 so that we can then moralize them, so to speak. 21:26 In other words, they wanted the State 21:28 to corral all of the people and bring them to church by force 21:32 on Sunday so that they would have access to them. 21:36 Since when is that the role of State 21:38 to get people to go to church 21:40 so that the pastors can preach sermons to them 21:42 and moralize them, so to speak? 21:46 Now why did they want this national Sunday law? 21:49 Well, actually, the reason why 21:51 is because they saw society falling apart. 21:55 They saw an increase in crime. 21:58 By the way, this was in the aftermath of the Civil War. 22:01 There were tremendous societal problems. 22:03 There was problem with liquor at that time. 22:07 So the prohibitionists arose. 22:08 And so they said in order 22:10 for the United States to correct these problems 22:14 everybody needs to get back to church. 22:17 And in order to get back to church 22:19 there has to be a national Sunday law. 22:23 In fact, I want you to notice what Dr. Briggs had to say 22:27 about the Sunday newspaper. 22:30 He said this, "What a mélange! 22:33 What a dish to set down before a man 22:38 before breakfast and after breakfast." 22:40 He's talking about the newspaper, he says, 22:43 "What a mélange! What a dish to set down 22:45 before a man before breakfast and after breakfast, 22:48 to prepare him for hearing the word of God! 22:51 It makes it twice as hard to reach 22:53 those who go to the sancturay, 22:55 and keeps many away from the house of worship altogether. 23:00 They read the paper, 23:01 the time comes to go to church, but it is said, 23:04 'Here is something interesting, I will read it, 23:07 and not go to church today.'" 23:11 Another one the leaders said this, 23:13 "The laboring class are apt to rise late on Sunday morning, 23:18 read the Sunday papers and allow the worsh-- 23:22 the hour of worship to go by unheeded." 23:26 And so the idea is eliminate the Sunday newspaper 23:29 so people can't sit down to read it at breakfast 23:31 and therefore, they decide to go to church. 23:34 At the Elgin Convention, Dr. Everts 23:38 who was one of the better known personalities of the movement 23:42 said this about the Sunday train. 23:44 You see, they wanted to eliminate the Sunday train also. 23:47 This is what he said. 23:48 "The Sunday train is another great evil. 23:52 They cannot afford to run a train 23:54 unless they get a great many passengers, 23:57 and so break up a great many congregations. 24:02 The Sunday railroad trains are hurrying their passengers 24:06 fast on to perdition. 24:08 What an outrage that the railroad, 24:11 that great civilizer, 24:13 should destory the Christian Sabbath! 24:16 By the way, that name for the day of rest, 24:20 Christian Sabbath is definitely a misnomer 24:23 because there's nothing Christian 24:25 about the first day of the week. 24:27 It is a pagan day all the way back 24:29 as we've studied to ancient Babylon. 24:33 The Reverend M.A. Gault of the National Reform Association 24:39 published an article in the "Christian Statesman" 24:42 of September 25, 1844-- 18--excuse me, 24:46 1884 where he said this about the railroad. 24:50 "The railroad," he's talking about the Chicago 24:52 and Rock Island railroad, 24:55 "has been running excursion trains 24:57 from Des Moines to Colfax Springs 25:00 on the Sabbath for some time, 25:02 and the ministers complain 25:04 that their members go on these excursions." 25:09 So of course, you need 25:10 a national Sunday law to shut down the trains, 25:13 to get rid of the newspapers on the first day of the week 25:16 and that way people don't have anything to do other than 25:19 go to church and listen to the sermon by the pastor. 25:23 In the Boston Monday lectures, Dr. Joseph Cook, 25:27 this was in the year 1887, 25:29 clearly said that the ministers did not want a civil Sabbath. 25:35 They did not want just a secular day of rest. 25:38 They wanted a religious day of rest. 25:40 Notice his words. 25:42 "The experience of centuries shows, 25:45 however, that you will in vain 25:47 endeavor to preserve Sunday as a day of rest, 25:51 unless you preserve it as a day of worship. 25:55 Unless Sabbath," and by the way, 25:56 when he says Sabbath he's saying-- 25:58 he's meaning Sunday, 25:59 "unless Sabbath observance be founded upon religious reasons, 26:04 you will not long maintain it 26:06 at a high standard on the basis of economic, 26:10 physiological, and political considerations only." 26:16 It's interesting that they saw that 26:19 anyone who's opposed to this idea of mandating Sunday 26:24 as the day of rest will be considered unpatriotic. 26:28 Notice the resolution of the Elgin Convention. 26:31 The argument is that the first day of the week 26:34 belongs to natural law, biblical law, 26:37 civil law, and is American besides. 26:41 This is what this resolution said, 26:44 "Resolved, that we recognize 26:46 the Sabbath as an institution of God," 26:49 he means Sunday by the way, 26:51 "revealed in nature and the Bible," 26:54 by the way, it's not revealed in nature or the Bible, 26:57 "and of perpetual obligation on all men." 27:00 We believe that the Sabbath 27:02 is of perpetual obligation upon all men. 27:05 And he continues saying, the Convention continues saying, 27:09 "and also as a civil and American institution, 27:14 bound up in vital and historical connection 27:18 with the origin and foundation of our government, 27:21 the growth of our polity and necessary to be maintained," 27:26 notice this, "in order for the preservation 27:29 and integrity of our national system, 27:33 and therefore as having a sacred claim 27:37 on all patriotic American citizens." 27:42 So the Sunday was considered to be American. 27:45 Anybody against it was not considered to be patriotic. 27:49 And it's interesting that he says 27:51 that this institution was in harmony with natural law, 27:54 biblical law, civil law, and of course, 27:57 the history of blue laws in the United States. 28:01 Also we notice at the Elgin Convention 28:04 that they were opposed to purchasing business 28:07 and travel on the first day of the week. 28:10 This is what one of the ministers said. 28:13 "That we look with shame and sarrow 28:17 on the non-observance of the Sabbath 28:19 by many Christian people, 28:21 in that the custom prevails with them 28:24 of purchasing Sabbath newspapers, 28:27 engaging in and patronizing Sabbath business and travel, 28:31 and in many instances giving themselves to pleasure 28:34 and self-indulgence, setting aside by neglect 28:37 and indifference the great duties and privileges 28:40 which God's day brings them." 28:45 Now there was also as I mentioned the idea 28:47 that the United States was a Christian nation. 28:49 They actually wanted to amend the Constitution 28:51 so that the Constitution would say 28:54 that the United States was a Christian nation. 28:56 Notice for example, one of the leaders who said this 29:01 "Give all men to understand 29:04 that this is a Christian nation and that believing," 29:08 now notice this, 29:09 "and that believing that without Christianity we perish, 29:13 we must maintain by all right means our Christian character. 29:19 Inscribe this character on our Constitution. 29:23 Enforce upon all that come among us 29:27 the laws of Christian morality." 29:31 And also in the "Statesman," the publication you find this, 29:35 "What the Statesman designates as 'political atheism, 29:39 that is political leaders who don't agree 29:42 with the national Sunday law, 29:44 "is nothing more nor less than the present form of government, 29:48 and the present Constitution of the United States." 29:51 They're saying that the Constitution 29:53 as it was written was political atheism. 29:57 Today it would be called secular humanism, by the way. 30:00 The "Statesman" continues saying, 30:02 "To oppose National Reform is to them," 30:05 that is to the National Reformers, "sheer atheism. 30:09 And to oppose the kind of government 30:11 which they endorse is political atheism. 30:15 That no religious test shall be required of a civil ruler, 30:19 is declared by Reverend M.A. Gault to be 30:22 'the infidel theory of Government.'" 30:26 Something else that the leaders were doing is that 30:30 they were kind of doing a type of voter guide. 30:33 Kind of telling their church members 30:35 who they should vote for and who they shouldn't. 30:37 Does this kind of ring a bell? 30:39 Notice the third resolution of the Elgin Convention 30:43 that speaks about the need 30:44 to vote for certain candidates. 30:47 "Resolved, that we give out votes 30:50 and support to those candidates or political officers 30:55 who will pledge themselves to vote for the enactment 30:59 and enforcement of statutes in favor of the civil Sabbath." 31:04 And the Honorable John Cole of Kingsley, Iowa 31:08 in the Christian Statesmen, September 16, 1886 said this, 31:13 "If Congress does not find in our Constitution 31:17 a basis for Sabbath legislation, 31:20 then let us elect a Congress who will find such a basis." 31:27 They were also promoting having rallies in Washington DC 31:31 as the amendment was being considered to put the pressure 31:35 on the legislators to enact the National Sunday Law. 31:40 Notice this for example. 31:43 "Let us begin without delay the circulation of petitions, 31:47 to be furnished in proper form by the Association, 31:50 by the National Reform Association, 31:53 and let an opportunity be given to all parts of the country 31:57 to make up a roll of petitions so great 32:01 that it will require a procession of wheelbarrows 32:04 to trundle the mighty mass 32:06 into the presence of the representatives 32:09 of the nation in the House of Congress. 32:12 Let a mass convention of the friends 32:14 of the cause be held in Washington, 32:17 when the Blair resolution shall be under discussion, 32:20 to accompany with its influence 32:23 the presentation of the petition, 32:25 and to take such other action as may be deemed best 32:29 to arouse the nation to a genuine enthusiasm 32:33 in behalf of our national Christianity." 32:36 Notice also what the Reverend JCK Milligan said 32:41 in the Christian Statesman, July 26, 1888, 32:45 about the idea of electing individuals 32:48 that would be in favor of the National Sunday Law. 32:51 He said this, "By letters to senators 32:54 and representatives in Congress, 32:56 by petitions numerously signed and forwarded to them, 33:01 by local, State, and national conventions held, 33:05 and public meetings in every school district--" 33:08 That's interesting that they have 33:09 the school districts involved. 33:11 "Such an influence," he continues, 33:13 "Can quickly be brought to bear 33:15 as will compel our legislators to adopt the measure, 33:20 and enforce it by the needed legislation. 33:24 The Christian pulpits, if they would, 33:26 could secure its adoption before the dog-days end." 33:33 In another statement we find this, 33:35 "The changes will come gradually and probably 33:38 only after the whole framework of Bible legislation has been 33:43 thoroughly canvassed by Congress and State legislators 33:48 by the Supreme Court of the United States 33:50 and of the several states and by lawyers and citizens 33:54 an outpouring of the spirit might soon secure it. 33:59 Now as they're talking about taking over 34:01 all of the braches of Government 34:03 to secure this National Sunday Law. 34:06 By the way, back then 34:07 the party that was pushing for this 34:09 were the Democrats not the Republicans. 34:12 Notice this interesting piece of an article written 34:16 in the Lansing Republican from back then, 34:20 they're criticizing this idea. 34:22 Thousands of men-- speaking about those 34:25 who vote for certain candidates 34:27 and the candidates giving in because of political pressure, 34:30 "Thousands of men if called upon to vote for such an Amendment, 34:35 would hesitate to vote against God, 34:39 although they might not believe that the Amendment is necessary, 34:43 or that it is right. 34:45 Such an Amendment would be likely to receive 34:48 an affirmative vote which would by no means 34:51 indicate the true sentiment of the people. 34:54 Men who make politics a trade 34:57 would hesitate to record their names 34:59 against the proposed Constitutional Amendment, 35:02 advocated by the great religious denominations of the land," 35:08 today we call them religious conservatives, by the way. 35:11 "And indorsed by such men as Bishop Simpson, 35:14 Bishop McIlvaine, Biship Eastburn, 35:17 President Finney, Professor Lewis, 35:20 Professor Seelye, Bishop Huntington, 35:22 Bishop Kerfoot, Dr. Patterson, 35:25 Dr. Cuyler, and many other divines 35:28 who are the representative men 35:29 of their respective denominations." 35:33 They also spoke about uniting 35:34 all of the protestant denominations. 35:37 Notice this interesting statement in the publication 35:41 Christian Statesman, February 7, 1884. 35:45 "We are different divisions of Emmanuel's army. 35:48 The Methodist are the charging cavalry, 35:51 the Presbyterians, the fighting infantry, 35:54 the Covenanters, battery's upon the heights. 35:57 We have one commander-in-chief 35:59 and under him we go forward, one united phalanx 36:03 against the common enemy. 36:05 And when the victory is gained 36:06 the army will be one and the leader one." 36:11 Notice the idea of uniting in this common cause. 36:16 Notice what Reverend Milligan had to say about the pastors 36:21 being the moral conscience of the nation. 36:25 He said this, "The churches and the pulpits have much to do 36:30 with shaping and forming opinions on all moral questions, 36:35 and with interpretations of Scripture 36:38 on moral and civil as well as 36:41 on the theological and ecclesiastical points. 36:44 And it is probably that in the most universal gathering 36:48 of our citizens about these, 36:50 the chief discussions and the final decision 36:54 of most points will be developed there." 36:57 In other words, the ministers are actually 37:00 going to be the ones who are going to write 37:02 and formulate theologically what this law would say. 37:07 And then I want you to notice the text that is used. 37:11 "Many nations shall come, and say, 37:13 Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 37:16 and to the house of the God of Jacob. 37:19 And he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths. 37:23 For the law shall go forth of Zion. 37:25 There is certainly--" Now notice this. 37:28 "There certainly is no class of citizens more intelligent, 37:33 patriotic and trustworthy than the leaders 37:37 and teachers in our churches." 37:41 Isn't that interesting that they would have the ministers 37:44 be the driving force behind the politicians 37:47 to redact or write this Sunday law 37:50 and have it imposed upon the people. 37:53 Another interesting thing that they were doing 37:55 is they were playing games with the establishment clause. 37:58 In fact they were saying that the establishment clause 38:01 simply forbids the Government from establishing a church, 38:05 a national church but it does not forbid 38:07 the Government from establishing religion. 38:10 Notice that at the Pittsburg Convention 38:12 which was held in 1874, 38:14 Professor Blanchard had this to say. 38:17 "But union of Church and State 38:20 is the selection by the nation of one church, 38:24 the endorsement of such a church, 38:27 the appointment of its officers and oversight of its doctrines. 38:31 For such a union none of us plead. 38:34 To such a union we are all of us opposed." 38:39 In other words we were opposed according to him 38:41 to the idea that the Government should select our leaders 38:44 and should dictate what happens in the church. 38:46 But that doesn't mean that the Government 38:48 cannot establish religion in general terms for everyone. 38:53 WJ Coleman had this to say about the Establishment Clause. 38:59 The first sentence of article I of Amendments reads, 39:03 "Congress shall make no law 39:05 respecting an establishment of religion 39:08 or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." 39:11 No he explains what that means. 39:13 "This would be made consistent with the proposed amendment 39:18 by substituting the words 'a church' for 'religion,' 39:24 making it read, 'Congress shall make 39:26 no law respecting an establishment of a church.'" 39:31 In other words they wanted to amend the first amendment 39:33 to say that Congress cannot establish a church, 39:37 not necessarily religion. 39:41 Then he says this. 39:42 This is what the reform association believes 39:45 should be the rule in a rightly constituted state. 39:49 "There should be religion but no church." 39:53 There was also an embracing of Roman Catholics by Protestants. 39:58 Notice in the Christian Statesman, 40:00 December 11, 1884, this. 40:04 "We cordially, gladly recognize the fact 40:09 that in South America republics and in France 40:13 and other European countries, 40:15 the Roman Catholics are the recognized advocates 40:18 of national Christianity and stand opposed 40:22 to all the proposals of secularism." 40:25 Now as they are saying, 40:27 the Catholic church is just like us, 40:28 they're opposing secularism 40:30 by establishing national religion, 40:33 not a national religion 40:34 but establishing religious observances. 40:37 And they said this is exactly what we want here. 40:39 Have you ever heard of the image 40:41 to the beast in Revelations Chapter 13, 40:43 that's exactly what Revelations Chapter 13 is talking about. 40:47 Now I want you to notice another statement. 40:49 And there is a very significant couple of words here. 40:52 This is Christian Statesman, December 11, 1884. 40:56 "Whenever the Roman Catholics are willing to co-operate 41:00 in resisting the progress of political atheism--" 41:04 You understand what that means, 41:06 political atheism, right? 41:07 That means the Government 41:09 does not become involved in religion at all. 41:11 "Whenever they--" that is Roman Catholics, 41:14 "Are willing to co-operate in resisting 41:15 the progress of political atheism, 41:18 we will gladly join hands--" 41:22 I want you to remember that. 41:24 "We will gladly join hands with them. 41:28 Sylvester F. Scovel said this about the co-operation 41:33 between Protestants and Roman Catholics. 41:36 He says, "This common interest ought both 41:40 to strengthen our determination to work, 41:43 and our readiness to co-operate in every way 41:47 with our Roman Catholic fellow-citizens. 41:50 We may be subjected to some rebuffs in out first proffers, 41:54 and the time is not yet come 41:56 when the Roman Church will consent to strike hands 42:00 with other churches, as such. 42:03 But the time has come to make repeated advances 42:07 and gladly to accept co-operation in any form 42:11 in which they may be willing to exhibit it. 42:14 It is one of the necessities of the situation." 42:19 This is not a case of Catholics 42:21 seeking the co-operation of the Protestants. 42:23 This is a case of Protestants 42:24 seeking the co-operation of Roman Catholics. 42:28 There was also talk of establishing 42:30 religious instruction in public schools. 42:34 Notice Senator Blair-- what Senator Blair had to say 42:38 about religious textbooks. 42:39 He said, "I believe that a textbook of instruction 42:44 in the principles of virtue, morality, 42:47 and of the Christian religion can be prepared 42:51 for use in the public schools by the joined efforts 42:55 of those who represent every branch of the Christian Church, 43:00 both Protestant and Catholic and also those 43:04 who are not actively associated with either." 43:08 Another interesting aspect is that 43:11 this bad cause of trying to get a national Sunday law passed 43:17 was linked with other good causes. 43:19 Like for example the need to overcome alcoholism, 43:24 it's known as prohibition. 43:26 In fact Sam Jones, a third party prohibitionist, 43:29 in July of 1888 in a talk that he gave in Windsor, Canada, 43:34 which was composed mostly of Americans there had this to say. 43:38 "Now I tell you, I think we are running 43:41 the last political combat on the lines 43:44 we have been running them on. 43:47 It is between the republicans and the democrats this contest 43:51 and it is the last the republicans 43:53 will make in America. 43:54 The democrats are going in overwhelmingly. 43:58 4 years from now the prohibition element 44:00 will break the solid south. 44:02 The issue then will be, God or no God, 44:06 drunkenness or sobriety, 44:08 Sunday Sabbath or no Sabbath, heaven or hell. 44:12 That will be the issue. 44:14 Then we will wipe up the ground with the democratic party 44:18 and let God rule America from that time on." 44:23 Does that sound like the voice of the dragon? 44:26 This is in the 1880s not in 2007. 44:32 The Women's Christian Temperance Union of that time 44:35 was pushing for prohibition 44:37 but they were also very strong supporters 44:39 of the National Sunday Law. 44:41 Actually what they wanted was a theocracy, 44:44 like in colonial times. 44:45 Notice this, "A true theocracy is yet to come 44:50 and the enthronement of Christ in law and lawmakers. 44:54 Hence I pray devoutly, as a Christian patriot 44:59 for the ballot in the hands of women and rejoice 45:03 that the National Women's Christian Temperance Union 45:07 has so long championed this cause." 45:11 So they are longing for the day that women can vote 45:15 so that they can vote not only for prohibition 45:17 but also for a National Sunday Law. 45:21 Most of the leader of this movement 45:23 actually wanted a theocracy in the United States. 45:26 A theocracy means that the civil Government 45:29 will be ruled by the wishes of the church. 45:32 Allow me to read you some statements 45:33 where they express this view overtly. 45:37 Professor Blanchard at the Elgin Convention 45:40 spoke about the role of ministers 45:42 in this so-called new theocracy. 45:45 He said, "In this work we are undertaking for the Sabbath 45:49 we are the representative of God." 45:52 He says the ministers are the representatives of God. 45:56 Here's another statement. 45:57 "The Government of Israel was a theocracy. 46:00 The will of God was made known to the ruler by the prophets. 46:04 The ruler compelled the offices of the law to prevent 46:06 the ungodly from selling goods on the Sabbath. 46:09 This Government is to be made a theocracy." 46:12 He's saying in his day and age, 46:14 "This Government is to be made a theocracy. 46:17 The preachers are the successors of the prophets. 46:20 And they are to compel the officers of the law 46:23 to prevent all selling of goods 46:26 and all manner of work on Sunday." 46:31 Dr. Crafts, general secretary 46:34 of the National Sunday Law Union said this. 46:37 "The preachers are the successors of the prophets." 46:43 The President's annual address at the convention 46:46 held in Nashville in 1887 had this to say. 46:51 "The Women's Christian Temperance Union local, 46:54 state, national, and world wide has one vital organic thought, 47:00 one all-absorbing purpose, one undying enthusiasm. 47:05 And that is that Christ shall be this world's king." 47:11 Kind of sounds like the Mount of Temptation, doesn't it? 47:14 "Yea, verily this world's king--" 47:17 And that's in capital letters. 47:19 "In its realm of cause and effects, kings of its courts, 47:23 its camps, its commerce, king of its colleges and cloisters, 47:29 king of its customs and its constitutions, 47:32 the kingdom of Christ must enter the realm of law 47:35 through the gateway of politics. 47:38 Interesting, the kingdom of Christ must enter 47:41 the realm of law through the gateway of politics. 47:45 We pray heaven to give the all parties 47:49 no rest until they shall swear an oath 47:52 of allegiance to Christ in politics 47:55 and march in one great army 47:57 up to the poles to worship God." 48:00 In fact, they spoke about this in franchising people 48:04 who did not agree with them, 48:06 in other words people would lose their citizenship. 48:08 Notice what EB Graham 48:10 of the National Reform Convention 48:12 of York, Nebraska had to say. 48:15 "We might add, in all justice, 48:18 if the opponents of the Bible do not like 48:21 our Government and its Christian features, 48:24 let them go to some wild, desolate land. 48:27 And in the name of the devil, 48:30 and for the sake of the devil subdue it, 48:32 and set up a government of their own 48:35 on infidel and atheistic ideas, and then, 48:39 if they can stand it, stay there till they die." 48:44 John Calvin, Max Milligan another minister 48:47 that was in favor of this movement said this. 48:51 "When the amendment is adopted--" 48:54 And by the way he was thinking 48:55 it was going to be adopted in 1888 but we know that 48:58 it's going to be adopted in the future. 49:00 "When the amendment is adopted how will it act 49:03 upon the civil and political rights of infidels, 49:06 Jews, etcetera," he asked. 49:08 How--what effect will it have on them? 49:10 He says, "This depends largely upon themselves. 49:13 This worst result will be to disenfranchise them." 49:19 M. A. Gault, district secretary of the association said this. 49:24 "A remedy for all these malefic influences-- 49:28 the turmoil in society he's talking about, 49:31 is to have the government simply set up the moral law 49:35 and recognize God's authority behind it 49:37 and lay its hand on any religion that does not conform to it." 49:43 Christian Statesman, October 2, 1884, 49:46 "Give all men to understand that this is a Christian nation 49:50 and that believing that without Christianity we perish" 49:55 Those are the words of Caiaphas, by the way, in John Chapter 11. 49:58 "We must maintain by all means our Christian character. 50:02 Inscribe this character on our constitution 50:05 and force upon all who come among us 50:08 the laws of Christian morality." 50:12 Well, what eventually would come as a result of this? 50:18 The result would be persecution 50:21 against those who did not agree. 50:23 Notice at the national reform 50:26 Women's Christians Temperance Union convention 50:32 which was held at Lake Sidoarjo in 1887. 50:36 Notice these words. 50:37 "There is a law in the State of Arkansas 50:40 enforcing Sunday observance upon people 50:44 and the result has been that many good persons 50:47 have not only been imprisoned 50:49 but have lost their property and even their lives." 50:55 This was back in 1888. 50:58 Now this was an objection by some that belonged 51:00 to the Women's Christian Temperance Union. 51:02 Notice the answer of Dr. McAlister, 51:05 one of the leaders of the movement. 51:06 He says, and these words are prophetic. 51:09 "It is better that a few should suffer--" 51:13 You know where that comes from? John 11. 51:16 "It is better that a few should suffer 51:18 than that the whole nation should lose its Sabbath." 51:24 By the way, those words of Caiaphas 51:25 were fulfilled by the rejection of Christ. 51:28 The nation was taken away and the nation was destroyed. 51:32 In the year 556 Pope Pelagius called upon an individual 51:38 called Narses to command people 51:42 to obey the Pope's commands by force of law. 51:46 Narses, you know, complained to the Pope. 51:49 He says, "We shouldn't have to use force 51:50 to compel people to do what the Pope says." 51:54 Notice what Pelagius wrote back to him. 51:57 "Be not alarmed at the idle talk of some. 52:00 Climb out against persecution and reproach in the church 52:04 as if she delighted in cruelty 52:08 when she punishes evil with wholesome severities 52:11 or procures the salvation of souls." 52:15 And now notice this. 52:16 "He alone persecutes who forces to do evil." 52:21 Is that true? Persecution is only when you persecute evil? 52:29 He says, notice, 52:31 "He alone persecutes who forces to do evil 52:34 but to restrain man from doing evil 52:38 or to punish those who have done it 52:40 is not persecution or cruelty but love of mankind." 52:45 In other words to persecute error is not persecution. 52:50 That's incredible. 52:51 But it's not so incredible because even in Colonial times-- 52:54 have you ever heard of John Cotton? 52:57 He was one of the prominent 52:58 religious leaders in Colonial times 53:01 and this is what he had to say. 53:03 "Persecution is not wrong in itself. 53:07 It is wicked for falsehood to persecute truth, 53:11 but it is the sacred duty of truth 53:14 to persecute falsehood." 53:17 And that's exactly what happened in Colonial times. 53:20 The question is, is Sunday falsehood? 53:24 But those who were teaching it were saying it was the truth. 53:27 That's why you have to have freedom of conscience, 53:30 to worship God according to the dictates 53:32 of your own conscience and not as people perceive the truth. 53:38 Interestingly enough there was a Virginia Sunday Law 53:41 which was enacted in 1610 which required attendance 53:46 at the divine service twice a day 53:49 with economic fines for the first two offenses 53:52 and to suffer death for the third. 53:56 This is in Colonial America. 53:58 First two times you missed 54:00 the Sunday service, economic fines. 54:03 The third time you missed, 54:04 the sentence was to suffer death. 54:08 A minister in Samoa, California-- 54:10 interestingly enough, right around the corner, 54:12 September of 1888 had this to say. 54:16 "We have laws to punish the man who steals our property. 54:20 But we have no law to prevent people from working on Sunday. 54:24 It is right that the thief be punished. 54:27 But I have more sympathy for that man 54:29 than I have for him who works on that day." 54:34 Do you know that in Arkansas and in Tennessee 54:36 Seventh-day Adventists were persecuted 54:39 for not observing Sunday as the day of rest. 54:43 Property was confiscated. 54:45 They were fined. They were imprisoned. 54:48 And some of them even lost their lives. 54:51 In fact, A.T Jones in the book "Civil Government and Religion" 54:56 documents 21 cases with names of the accused, 55:00 places, names of judges, charges, and penalties 55:05 that were enacted as a result of people 55:08 who simply wanted to follow the dictates of their conscience 55:11 and keep the Sabbath as the day of rest. 55:14 And you don't think that 55:15 that can happen again in the United States? 55:17 Most of the Sunday laws, most of the Blue laws 55:20 have never been taken off the books. 55:23 They are there. They are latent. 55:25 Just waiting to be enacted. 55:27 Finally I would like to read from "The Century" 55:30 which is a publication for April 1888. 55:34 A Mr. Kenan described the statutes of Russia 55:39 and the subject of crimes against the faith. 55:41 What he's going to say is that the United States 55:44 at that day and age was very similar to Russia. 55:48 Notice, he says this. 55:51 He quoted a statute after statute. 55:54 And I quote, "Providing that whoever shall ensure--" 55:59 Excuse me. 56:00 "Providing that whoever shall censure the Christian faith 56:04 or the Orthodox Church or the Scriptures 56:07 or the Holy Sacraments or the Saints 56:10 or their images or the Virgin Mary 56:13 or the angels or Christ or God 56:18 shall be deprived of all civil rights 56:21 and exiled for life to the most remote parts of Siberia. 56:26 This is the system in Russia," he says. 56:29 "And it is in the direct line of the wishes 56:33 of the National Reform Association. 56:36 With this difference however that Russia is content 56:40 to send dissenters to Siberia while the National Reformers 56:44 want to send them to the devil straight." 56:49 One final statement from the Christian Statement, 56:51 August 8, 1888, "Every sin, secret or public, 56:56 against God, is a sin against our country, 57:00 and is high treason against the state." 57:05 Did you know all this was happening around that time? 57:08 Probably most of us didn't. 57:11 Can something like this happen again 57:13 in the United States of America? 57:15 Not only can it happen, 57:19 but according to what we studied it will happen again. 57:22 So we must be certain 57:24 that we are keeping God's true day of rest. |
Revised 2014-12-17