Adventistische Schriften über: "Encouraging message in the style of Ellen G. White about the image and current proposals in Fiji regarding Sunday closures, prayer day, and religious freedom; with exact Ellen White quotations."

Ellen G. White warned clearly that the enforcement of Sunday commandments by the state will suppress religious freedom. She saw in the alteration of the Sabbath day a sign of church authority and called the transformation of the Sabbath day the 'Image of the Beast'. She urged strongly to place God's Word above human laws and to bravely champion the freedom of conscience, so as not to worship the 'Image of the Unrighteous'. These prophetic warnings naturally also apply to current situations such as in Fiji.

The Image of the Beast and the Enforcement of Sunday

»As the sign of the authority of the Catholic Church, Roman‑Catholic writers quote, “the whole act of moving the Sabbath to Sunday, which Protestants permit ... because by strictly observing the Sabbath they determine the […], to institute festivals and to command them under strain.” [“Brief Exposition of Christian Doctrine.”] What the amendment of the Sabbath is, then, is merely the sign or mark of the authority of the Roman Church – “the mark of the beast”? The Roman Church has not relinquished its claim to preeminence; and if the world and the Protestant churches accept a Sabbath that they have created while they reject the biblical Sabbath, they virtually accept this decree. They may invoke the authority of tradition and the Fathers for the amendment, but thereby ignore the principle that separates them from Rome – “the Bible, and only the Bible, is the religion of Protestants.” The Roman‑Catholic can see that they deceive themselves, willingly closing their eyes to the facts. When the movement to enforce the Sabbath gains momentum, they rejoice, confident that eventually the whole Protestant world will be led under the banner of Rome. Romans declare, “the observance of the Sabbath by Protestants is a humiliation they pay, against their will, to the authority of the [Catholic] Church.” [“Brief Discourse on Protestantism,” p. 213.] The enforcement of Sabbath‑keeping among the Protestant churches is the enforcement of the papal god‑stat – the beast. Those who understand the demands of the fourth commandment choose the false instead of the true Sabbath; they thus become a rebellion against the power that alone commands them. But in the act of imposing a religious duty through the state, the churches themselves would become an image of the beast; thus the enforcement of Sabbath‑keeping in the United Nations states would be the enforcement of the veneration of the beast and its image.«

1 - Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.) (GC88 448.3)

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Religious Freedom and God's Word Above

»There are many, even of those engaged in this movement for Sunday enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this action. They do not see that they are striking directly against religious liberty. There are many who have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath, and the false foundation upon which the Sunday institution rests.—. The banner of truth and religious liberty held emporgehalten by the founders of the gospel church and by God's witnesses during the centuries that passed since then, has, in this last conflict, been committed to our hands. The responsibility for this great gift rests with those whom God has blessed with a knowledge of His Word. We are to receive this Word as a supreme authority. We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its legitimate sphere. But when its claims conflict with the claims of God, we must obey God rather than men. God's word must be recognized as above all human legislation. A “Thus saith the Lord” is not to be set aside for a “Thus saith the church” or a “Thus saith the state.” The crown of Christ is to be lifted above the diadems of earthly potentates.—. We as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed to us. We are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the Sunday law will bring us. It is our duty, as we see the signs of approaching peril, to arouse to action. Let none sit in calm expectation of the evil, comforting themselves with the belief that this work must go on because prophecy has foretold it, and that the Lord will shelter his people. We are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can accomplish the work which has so long been neglected. Let there be more earnest prayer; and then let us work in harmony with our prayers.—.«

2 - Ellen Gould White, Christian Service (ChS 161.3)

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Current Sunday Commandments and the End of Freedom

»This view was given in 1847 when there were but very few of the Advent brethren observing the Sabbath, and of these but few supposed that its observance was of sufficient importance to draw a line between the people of God and unbelievers. Now the fulfillment of that view is beginning to be seen. “The commencement of that time of trouble,” here mentioned, does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel.—. The law of God, through the agency of Satan, is to be made void. In our land of boasted freedom religious liberty will come to an end. The contest will be decided over the Sabbath question, which will agitate the whole world.—. A great crisis awaits the people of God. Very soon our nation will attempt to enforce upon all the observance of the first day of the week as a sacred day. In doing this they will not scruple to compel men against the voice of their own conscience to observe the day the nation declares to be the Sabbath.—. Seventh Adventists will fight the battle over the seventh day Sabbath. The authorities in the United States and in other countries will rise up in their pride and power and make laws to restrict religious liberty.—.«

3 - Ellen Gould White, Last Day Events (LDE 144.1)

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National Reformers and Religious Law

»A great crisis awaits the people of God. A crisis awaits the world. The most momentous struggle of all the ages is just before us. Events which for more than forty years we have upon the authority of the prophetic word declared to be impending are now taking place before our eyes. Already the question of an amendment to the Constitution restricting liberty of conscience has been urged upon the legislators of the nation. The question of enforcing Sunday observance has become one of national interest and importance. We well know what the result of this movement will be. But are we ready for the issue? Have we faithfully discharged the duty which God has committed to us of giving the people warning of the danger before us? There are many, even of those engaged in this movement for Sunday enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this action. They do not see that they are striking directly against religious liberty. There are many who have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath and the false foundation upon which the Sunday institution rests. Any movement in favor of religious legislation is really an act of concession to the papacy, which for so many ages has steadily warried against liberty of conscience. Sunday observance owes its existence as a so-called Christian institution to “the mystery of iniquity;” and its enforcement will be a virtual recognition of the principles which are the very cornerstone of Romanism. When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery; it will be nothing else than giving life to the tyranny which has long been eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into active despotism. The National Reform movement, exercising the power of religious legislation, will, when fully developed, manifest the same intolerance and oppression that have prevaild in past ages. Human councils then assumed the Prerogativen of Deity, crushing under their despotie power liberty of conscience; and imprisonment, exile, and death followed for those who opposed their dictates. If popery or its principles shall again be legislated into power, the fires of persecution will be rekindled against those who will not sacrifice conscience and the truth in deference to popular errors. This evil is on the point of realization.«

4 - Ellen Gould White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5 (5T 711.4)

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Defense of God's Word Against the State

»The National Reform movement, exercising the power of religious legislation, will, when fully developed, manifest the same intolerance and oppression that have prevailed in past ages. Human councils then assumed the Prerogativen of Deity, crushing under their power liberty of conscience; and imprisonment, exile, and death followed for those who opposed their dictates. If popery or its principles shall again be legislated into power, the fires of persecution will be rekindled against those who will not sacrifice conscience and the truth in deference to popular errors. This evil is on the point of realization. When God has given us light showing the dangers before us, how can we stand clear in His sight if we neglect to put forth every effort in our power to bring it before the people? Can we be content to leave them to meet this momentous issue unwarned? There is a prospect before us of a continued struggle, at the risk of imprisonment, loss of property, and even of life itself, to defend the law of God, which is made void by the laws of men. In this situation worldly policy will urge an outward compliance with the laws of the land, for the sake of peace and harmony. And there are some who will even urge such a course from the Scripture: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.... The powers that be are ordained of God.” But what has been the course of God’s servants in ages past? When the disciples preached Christ and Him crucified, after His resurrection, the authorities commanded them not to speak any more nor to teach in the name of Jesus. “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” They continued to preach the good news of salvation through Christ, and the power of God witnessed to the message. The sick were healed, and thousands were added to the church. “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadduces,) and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”«

5 - Ellen Gould White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5 (5T 712.3)

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