Good News 1952 (Vol II No 10) Oct_w

7/28/2019 Good News 1952 (Vol II No 10) Oct_w

1/16

VOL. II, NUMBER 10

T h e National MagazIne o fAMBASSADOR COLLEGE

OCTOBER, 1952

The MARK of the BEAST . it is here, NOW!

Better be sure whether this brand is upon you.' Without it, no man willbe able to buy or sell! Without it, you will be tortured even to death!But unt] it, you shall suffer the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES!

by Herbert W. Armstrong

SME say this mystic "mark" is thefasces on our dimes. During WorldWar II many said it was Hitler'sswastika. During the Depression NewDeal many said it was Roosevelt's NRA!No subject has intrigued-and baffled-more people in our generation. Thousands of sermons have been preached oni t-by professed ministers and evangelists who themselves did not know whatit is! Millions have been curious.

The average sermon on this subjectconsiders one text of Scripture, only!Only Text Usually Read

This is the sale passage ordinarilyquoted:"And he (the second "beast") causethall, both small and great, rich and poor,free and bond, to receive a MARK intheir r ight hand, or in their foreheads:and that no man might buy or sell, savehe that had the mark, or the name ofthe beast, or the number of his name."(Rev. 13:16-17)From this one passage the speakerCUStomarily uses his imagination. Thegeneral idea seems to be that since youwill nut be able to buy or sell withoutthis mysterious mark .. and since we allWish to be able to buy and sell, there-

fore we ought to do all in our power toreceive this mark!B;';there is an additional passage theyneglect to show you:"And I saw another sign in heaven,great and marvelous, -seven angelshaving the seven last plagues; for inthem is filled up the wrath of God ...And the seven angels came our of thetemple, having the seven plagues, ...And I heard a great voice out of the.temple saying to the seven angels, "Goyour ways, and pour out the vials of theWRATH OF GOD upon the earth. And thefirst went , and poured out his vial upon

the earth; and there fell a noisome andgrievous sore upon the men which hadthe mark of the beast, and upon themwhich worshipped his image." (Rev.15:1,6, and 16:1-2).

I f you do have the "mark of thebeast," you will be terribly punished,without mercy, by GOo--you will receivethe SEVEN LAST PLAGUES!

How to Tell What It Is!There are many more references tothis subject in the Bible. Instead oflooking at one p a ~ ~ a g e unly, then turning away from God's own revelation ofthis mystery, and using human irnagina-

tion and fancy to conjure up the manyridiculous conclusions being foistedupon a deceived public by men devoidof understanding, let us see what GODsays this MARK really is! .Make no mistake, GOD TELLS USPLAINLY what it is! It is unmistakably,clearly revealed and explained IN THEBIBLE! But to find GOD'S ANSWER, wemust have before us all of the Scripturesreferring to this subject!First, from the text universally quoted(Rev. 13: 16-17), notice this: the"mark" is something that will be verypopular-something the majority ofpeople will be in favor of, will seekwhich custom will approve as RIGHTbecause no man will be allowed to "buyor sell," unless he receives this "mark."Everyone wants to be able to "buy orsell." In this scriptural usage the expression "buy or sell" more literally indicates being able to buy-not that storesor those from whom one might makepurchases of the necessities of life wouldrefuse to accept the money, bur that theone refusing the "mark" would not beable to buy, would not be able to earna living, to earn a wage or salary, or toengage himself in business.The "mark of the beast," then, has


2/16

Page 2direct bearing on ability to engage inbusiness, or to hold a job and earn aliving.

But let's look at all the facts God reveals on the subject-itll the Scripturesbearing on it.What Is the Beast?

First, then, the "beast" itself. The"mark" is the mark of the "BEAST." Thisis described in the first verse of thischapter:"And I stood upon the sand of thesea," records John, speaking of his prophetic vision, "and saw a beast rise upout of the sea, having seven heads andten horns, and upon his horns tencrowns, and upon his heads the name ofblasphemy. And the beast which I sawwas like unro a leopard, and his feetwere as the feet of a bear, and his mouthas the mouth of a lion: and the dragongave him his power, and his seat, andgreat authori ty." (Rev. 13:1-2).What is this weird "beast"? An article in the June PLAIN TRUTH identified this wild animal-a composite wildanimal with the strongest characteristicsof the four wild animals symbolically described in Danie l seven, as THE ROMAN

EMPIRE. Space does not permit that fullidentif ica tion here. A copy of the Junenumber will be mailed you, withoutcharge, upon request.Daniel seven reveals that these"beasts" or wild animals, symbolize civil GOVERNMENTS, or world Empires.Daniel's first "beast" was like a lion, andit represented the Chaldean Empire ofNebuchadnezzar, called Babylon. Hissecond, like a bear, pictured the PersianEmpire; his third, with four heads, likea leopard, represented Alexander's Grecio-Macedonian Empire and its succeeding four divisions af ter his death; andhis fourth beast, unlike any existing wildanimal, the Roman Empire which swallowed up and absorbed all the others,and embodied the strongest physical andmilitary characteris tics of all its predecessors.This "beast" of Revelat ion 13 had themou th , the strongest pa rt , of the lion;the feet, the strongest part, of the bear;the body of the leopard. It included,in the ONE Empire it represems, thestrength of ALL of Danie l' s "beasts ." Itis the ROMAN EMPIRE.Notice, the "dragon" gave this Empireits seat and power, and great authority.Rev. 12: 9 and 20: 2 both tell us in pl ainwords this "dragon" is SATAN THE DEV-IL . It is, then, the political instrumentof Satan in ruling and deceiving theworld.

WHO'S Mark?Note this well! The "mark" is themark of the BEAST-and the "beast" is

The GOOD NEWSthe ROMAN EMPIRE. In Revelat ion 17 alater stage of this same wild beast ispictured, and there a "woman"-a greatCHURCH-sits astride it, guides it, nilesover it. But the MARK is the mark of theROMAN EMPIRE-not the Roman Catholic CHURCH!That is fact number one. Keep thatin mind.Now in verse 11 another "beast" ispictured, (Rev. 13). This beast had twohorns like a lamb, but spoke as a dragon.In the GOOD NEWS for July was an article plainly revealing this second "beast"to be the Roman Catholic Church. ThisChurch is an ecclesiastical world Empire-a government. See art icle "Papacy," Encyclopaedia Britannica.It took over, exercised, wielded, allthe power of the first beast-the RomanEmpire. After 554 A.D., the RomanChurch did do this for 1260 years, asprophesied!Notice, further, verses 15-16:"And he had power to give life unrothe image of the 0 beast, that the imageof the beast should both speak, andcause that as many as would not worshipthe image of the beast should be killed.And he causeth all, . . . to receive amark in their right hand, or in theirforeheads." (Rev. 13: 15-16).Now here is a deceived Churchboth herself deceived by, and thereforeused by the devil, and also deceivingthe world. Not ice, this Church did notactually herself kill these martyrs-shemerely caused them to be killed. Andshe it was, too, who CAUSES all under

her domination to receive the dreadMARK of the Beast.The Brand of Rome

Notice carefully what the above texttells us:1) "He,"-the Catholic Church thatformed the Papacy and or iginated human church government modeled afterthat of the Roman Empire.2) "Causeth" all to receive this mark.o It is the Church, not the civil government, which forces this brand on people.3) I t is the same power which causedthe martyrdom of saints.4) It brands on the people the markof the "Beast't-s-that is, the mark of theROMAN EMPIRE, not the mark of theChurch.5) This mark is rece ived in the righthand, and in the forehead.So the MARK is that of the RomanEmpire, which the Roman CHURCH didcause or shall cause the western worldto receive.

TWO MartyrdomsNext notice when these saints werekilled. This wil l show us when the markef the beast is enforced.

October, 1952"And when he had opened the fifthseal, I saw under the altar the souls of

them that were slain for the word ofGod, and for the testimony which theyheld: ami they cried with a loud voice,saying, How long, 0 Lord, holy andtrue, dost thou not judge and avengeour blood on them that dwell on theear th?" (Rev . 6:9-10).Here we find pictu red the mar tyrs ofthe middle ages already dead, at thetime of this vision-which is theproximate present. They know "Vengeance is MINE,saith the Eternal ." Theyknow God's judgments against this persecuting, deceiving false Church, as described in Revelation 18, are to be the

SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, poured out "inthe presence of the Lamb" at the secondcoming of Christ. Read of it in Revelat ion 18. These dead saints are p icturedas crying out to ask "HOWLONG" beforethe Second Coming of Christ and theseven last plagues which will avengetheir martyrdom. History' tells us between fifty and a hundred MILLION ofthese saints were killed for the ir BIBLEfaith and obedience to God instead ofobedience to this church government ofman and the devil. Notice, now, whatmust again happen before the seven lastplagues and the coming of Christ!

"And white robes (symbolizing righteousness and pur it y) were giveu untoeveryone of them; and it was saidunto them, that they should rest yet alittle season, until their fellowservantsalso and their brethren, that should bekilled as they were, should be fulfilled."(Rev. 6: 11).Christ will nor come to t


3/16

FLASH! EXTRA!As we go to press these tw o flash reports came over the wires byAssociated Press. This is the most important news in years!

FROM Strasbourg, France: Underdate, September 13. The six-nationSchuman Plan Assembly todaychanged itself into a constitutional convention in order to bring about a

UNITED EUROPE. Work starts Mondayto draft a European Confederation.The industrial problems for which theymet are sidetracked, and their full energies are now devoted to whippingthrough a UNITED EUROPE-the resurrection of the ROMAN EMPIRE!From VATICAN CITY, Sept. 13: PopePius, in a surprise major speech to day publicly urged Europe's nat ions tocombine in a gigantic, one-nationUNITED EUROPE! He placed the power

of the Roman Catholic Church beh ind the move for European unity. Hestressed the fact tha t the political personalities alone cannot achieve thisgoal. He called it a move for the peaceof Europe and the peace of the world,and stressed the need of the unifyingpower , and the spir itual s trength of theRoman Church in order to bring itabout.We didn' t expect this move to comeout into the open so soon. Unless a dealis made with the Pope to unite thesenations, we predict th e l ikel ihood ofthis initial open and public effort torestore the ROMAN EMPIRE may fail.Such failure, however, will only set the

stage for another effort, which will sueceed as prophesied-a union in whichthe CHURCH sits astride this BEASTas it emerges now from the "bot tomlesspit." Many have set the year 1953 as acrisis year in prophecy fulfilment. Thisis scheduled to be completed nextspring-in 1953!IT MAY BE MUCH LATER THAN WETHINK. Against all oppos it ion we haveWARNED you for twenty years that thisvery thing is prophesied-and thereforedestined to occur! Let's AWAKE! Ourdays for proclaiming this warningfor proclaiming the true GOSPEL of theKingdom of GOD-may be cut short.PROPHECY MARCHES ON!

1n ItalyTh e United States Government is spending billions in tax dollarsin a fond hope that economic assistance will prevent the recurrenceof Fascism. But the same causes that once produced Fascism stillexist. Ou r economic aid is not solving Italy's problem; it is merelypostponing the ultimate RETU RN OF FASCISM.

by Herman L. Hoeh

FASCISM Revives

I T IS vital that you know what isreally happening in Italy. How isAmerican aid being administered?Have the Italian people altered theirways of thinking since the days of Mussolini? Or is belief in Fascism still prevalent?While in Rome I had an importantconference with the press representativeof the Italian Foreign Ministry. Theofficial explained the seriousness ofItaly's unsolved problem of overpopula-

tion. He revealed to me wh y it willpave the way for the re turn of Fascism.Italy is entirely dependent on Arnerican aid to prevent the collapse of herweak economy. While traveling throughnorthern Italian cities, Dick Armstrongand I saw many projects which havebeen fostered by United States economicassistance-modernized factories, newapartment bui ldings, ult ramodern railstations. Italy is definitely doing its partwith every dollar America is sending.Despite this amazing post-war expansion of I talian commerce and industry,her leaders well know that there is no

me thod by which American aid can bereduced for many years without wrecking Italian economy.The real cause of Italy's plight isoverpopulation, the very same cause thatproduced Fascism under Mussolini. Onlyslightly over one-half the land is capableof cultivation, yet nearly eight times asmany people live in each square mile ascompared with the United States. Thispresents a t remendous unemploymentproblem which mus t be solved by emi

gration.What Is Happening in Italy Today?The large majority of Italians arefriendly to America. Officials in govern

ment and indus try are cooperating because they know that their country mustdepend on U. S. aid: The powerful Communist influence has been broken by theformation, in 1948, of two anti-communist labor unions. Italy is trying tocooperate with other continental nationsso as to bring about European unity.All this appears fine on the surface,but everything is no t well beneath.

The problem of emigra ting Italy'smasses is not finding adequate solutionThe press representative with whomconversed said that the responsibility forthis failure RESTS ON OTHER NATIONSBECAUSE THEY ARE FAILING TO OPENTHEIR DOORS TO ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS.Italy demands the right to distributeher emigrants throughout the worldwithout hindrance. She is seeking tofoster agreements with Australia, Canada, the United States and various SouthAmerican countries. So far no nation hapermi tt ed unl imi ted Ita lian immigration in fear of hurting its own internaeconomy.It is imperative tha t this problem besoon solved. American aid can't continuyear after year to support Italian unemployed who will be unable to find jobno matter how much money Americspends on improving Italy's industryand commerce. At present our fc re igpolicy seems to be based upon the foolish idea that by spending money topostpone a solution, a solution to th


4/16

Page 4 The GOOD NEWS October, 1952

Sent free on personal request, as thelord provides. Address communications to the Editor, Box Ill , Pasadena.California.

The national magazine ofAMBASSADOR COLLEGE

ministering to The Church of Godscattered abroad, andreporting on campus happenings

Herbert W. ArmstrongPublisher and Editor

Herman L. Hoeh, Executive EditorRod Meredith, Norman Smith,Raymond Cole, Marion McNair,Raymond McNair, Wayne Cole

Associate EditorsCalvin Allen, Campus Edi tor

Kenneth Herrmann, Science EditorDick Armstrong, Picture Editor

The Future of ItalyWestern diplomats do not sense thevital effect which the outcome of this

problem wil l have on Ital ian think ing.At the moment it appears that It aly issafely democratic. This is true. As longas American taxpayers can afford tosupport the surplus, unemployed peopleof Italy, there is no need to fear a revived Fascism seizing the government.But America can 't continue to spendmoney in Italy for decades to come.With each passing month it is be

coming obvious that the Western nations will not permi t unlimited Italianimmigration. Since the Catholic Churchis utter ly against birth control , there isno hope of a reduced birth rate as someAmerican theorists might desire. Withabout two million unemployed becausethere are too few jobs and too many

Please cont inue on page 11

today. And yet American policy makersconfident ly beli eve tha t Fascism diedand was buried in the grave wit h Mussolini.~ o l l o w i n g this, I asked why so IllanyItalians turned away from the FascistParty. In reply, the official explained tome that Mussolini received popular supPOrt because of his victories. When mili

tary defeats occurred in Greece andNorth Africa and Ethiopia, the peoplebecame discontented with his leadership. "You know how people are," hesaid. "They follow a man if he can givethem a taste of victory, but in defeatthey quickly reject him."To put it plainly, It al ians feel li tt le

guilt for the wars in Africa. The mis-take of the Fascist Part)' lay in its corruption and its failure to provide adequa te ly for the troops which had to defend Mussolini 's new "Roman Empire."Many soldiers were sent into Greece inwinter, clad only in tennis shoes andsummer clothing.In overthrowing the party, the presentItalian government decided on a policyof cooperation with the Allies. Thismeant an inevi table change in foreignpolicy. The stripping of her coloniesforced the government to adopt a policyof peacefu l emigration to relieve thecountry of its surplus population burden.To the Italian people (he success orfailure of thi s plan is of utmost importance. If Italy can dispose of her peop lepeaceably through emigration, then theywill realize that it was a grave mistaketo have r isked the venture of war forcolonies. But if it should fail-as it will- THEN ITALY HAS NO OTHER CHOICEBUT TO ABIDE HER TIME UNTIL SHECAN AGAIN FOLLOW A PATH OF AG-GRESSION IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE p,osSESSIONS FOR HER EXCESS POPULA-TION.

HEARD ON PACIFIC COAST:XERB--50,000 watts-l090 on dial- 7 :00 P.M. every night.

KALI-los Angeles-1430 on dial7:30 A.M. every morning.KXL-Portland-IO,OOO watts. 750on dial-2 :30 P.M., Sundays.KVI-Seattle-Tacoma-570, first ondial-1O:30 P.M. Sundays.OTHER STATIONSWAIT-Chicago-820 on dial-l :00P.M. Sundays.KMAC-San Antonio---{)30 on dial- 7 :00 P.M. Sundays.

TO THE NATION & CANADA:XFRF-1570 on your dial (extremetop of dial) every Sundaynight, 7: 15 P.M. CentralStandard time.XEG-1050 on your dial, every night,8 :00 P.M. Central Standardtime.XELO-800 on your dial, every night,9:00 P.M. Central Standardtime. (8 :00 Mountain Standard time.)

Herbert W. Armstrong analyzes today's news, with the prophecies ofThe WORLD TOMORROW!

"The WORLD TOMORROW"RADIO LOG

The Italian representative was very bluntin telling me that even Mr. WinstonChurchi ll formerly approved the benefits that Mussolini supposedly introduced.He continued to explain to me thatItaly's problem of a surplus populationwas not solved completely by Mussolini.In face it was aggravated by his en

couragement of an increased birth rate.ONLY TWO SOLUTIONS REMAINED FORTHE FORMER FASCIST DICTATOR TOTAKE: (1 ) peaceable emigration ofItalians to foreign nat ions, or (2 ) theacquisi tion of colonies in North Africaby war.Mussolini chose the second: It concentrated more power in his hands overthe people.Then I asked the representat ive whathe thought of Mussolini 's attempt toacquire colonies to which I ta lians couldemigrate, and from which raw materialscould be cheaply obtained for an expanded home industry.He replied, "PERHAPS it was a mistake. The Italian people felt that theyhad been cheated because Italy has sofew colonies." In other words, it was and perhaps is-Italy's right to have anItalian East African Empire.This is the kind of thinking that rep-resentatives of Italy's government do

NUMBER 10OL. I I

problem of overpopulation will befound.Yet a real solut ion must be found to

prevent the return of Fascism.Why D id Italians Follow MussoIini?Mussolioi claimed to have a solut ionto Italy's problem of overpopulation.That is why the people accepted him.America has no real solution, yet wefondly hope that our money will continue to buy Italian friendship.In my conference with the press representative in Palazzo Chigi in Rome, I

obtained some vital facts indicating thatthe same causes which brought Mussolini to power will once again bringFascism into power.Mussolini's revolution occurred in1922 at a t ime when Italy was suffering terribly from the aftermath of WorldWar I. Through force, he was able toalleviate many economic hardships atthe cost of personal freedom. Italianseverywhere gradual ly approved thehome policy of Benito Mussolini. I wastold by the press representative thateven today most Italians believe thehome policy of the Fascist regime wasgood because it provided work for manyunemployed and boosted industrywhich included war industry.Notice the significance of thi s fact.

We have not educated the Italian peopleto see the potential dangers of Fascism.


5/16

Government Authority-Should you submit to it?

by Herman L. Hoeh

T H IS is an election year. People arelistening wi th enjoyment or disgust to campaigners as they travelfrom city to city making grandiosepromises and hurling political "mud" tosecure votes.But in the midst of all this oratory,you probably are failinR to hear a singleword of a far more viral message.Do you know what it is?It's your relationship to the govern-ment under which you liue.Is it your duty to reform the government or to resist bureaucratic ordinances? Do you really have to show respect and pay taxes to political officeholders even when they abuse theirhigh offices? Are officials responsible" to the people" or to GorP Which?

What Does the Scripture Say?The past few generations have grownup in an atmosphere of disrespect [0-ward authority , both in the home and inpublic life. Nearly everyone wants to actaccording to the way he feels aboutleaders, and not according to the wayGod stlYs we should conduct ourselves.It's high time to realize that there is ajudgment coming and that it does makea difference how you act toward thosein authority.The apostles devoted many verses intheir epistles to explain the relationshipof Christians to human governments.Paul wrote at great length because heknew how easily this sub ject would beneglected, as it is today in nearly everydenomination. Here is what he said inRomans 13: 1-7:"Let EVEJ{ soul be subject unto thehigher powers. For there is no power bu tof God: the powers that be ARE OR

DAINED OF GOD. Whosoever thereforeresisreth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: AND THEY THAT RESISTSHALL RECEIVE TO THEMSELVES DAMNATION."Notice the emphasis which the apostle places on this matter. "They that resist"-those who refuse to submit toauthoriry-s-t'shall receive to themselvesdamnation.""For rulers are not a terror to goodworks, but to rhe evil. Wilr rhou rhennot be afraid of the power? do thatwhich is good, and thou shalt havepraise of the same: for he is the minister

of God to thee for good. But if thou dothat which is evil, be afraid; for hebearerh not the sword in vain: for he isthe min ist er of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.Where fore ye must needs be subject,not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause PAY YETRIBUTE ALSO: for they are God'sministers, attending continually uponthis very thing. RENDER THEREFORE TOALL THEIR DUES: TRIBUTE TO WHOMTRIBUTE IS DUE; CUSTOM TO WHOMCUSTOM; FEAR TO WHOM FEAR; HONORTO WHOM HONOR."This is not just Paul speaking. It isJesus' directive to His church for allt imes and generations, It is very irnportam-let every person be subject tohigher authority.Instead of preaching this t ru th fromthe Bible, most ministers preach theirawn words about "getting out rhc vote"and "supporting a Christian candidate.""It is your duty," they say. This is notwhat Jesus or the apostles taught. Thereal Chr is tian duty is NOT to mix withthe polit ical affairs of this world, but tobe subjec t to authorities. You are to beseparato: from the world, although livingin it. (John 17:15,16)

Does Government Authority Comefrom the People?

Contrary to the common teaching, theBible proves that government authorityand power is ORDAINED OF GOD. I t isnot derived "from the consent of thegoverned"-the people."There is NO authori ty but of God."'The authorities that exist are ordainedof God." Human beings seem to reasonthat because men may be elected or appointed or may seize power, that th eironly authority proceeds from the peoplethat supported them. How untrue thisassumption is!This is an age when men don't knowwho rules in earthly affairs. Almosteveryone is as ignorant of this matt eras was Pontius Pilate because the clergyis failing to preach the truth. Jesus hadto tell Pilate that the authori ty vested inhim came from the Almighty. Not icehow similar Pilate reasoned comparedwith people today: "Then saith Pilateunto him, Speaketh thou not unto me?knowesr thou not tha t I have power to

crucify thee, and have power to releasethee?" Jesus answered, "Thou couldesrhave no power at all against me, EXCEPTIT WERE GIVEN THEE FROM ABOVE."(John 19: 10-11)Since any authority is ordained ofGod we are to be subject to it. AnyoneWHO RESISTS THE AUTHORITY OFHUMAN GOVERNMENTS IS ACTUALLYREBELLING AGAINST GOD WHO ORDAINS THAT AUTHORITY. This appliesequally as well to anyone in a posi tionof authority, whether a school teacher ora foreman in a factory.

Thinking Up an ExcuseIt is only human nature for people toth ink of an excuse to circumvent theseways in which God says we should live.You have heard it said that God doesnot approve of the evil tha t some politicians or other officials commit. Then itis argued that corrupt leaders havethereby forfeited their right to commandour respect and submission.This is a clever but faulty argument.Why?God ordained rulers to punish evilworks, not good works. Even though officials may be elected qr appointed bythe people, rulers are actually account-able to God who permits them to exer-cise authority. Persons in responsiblepositions IIlay fail to execute the commission of their offices-to punish wrongdeeds and to preserve order. They maycor rupt the government. But as long asGod permits them to be in authorityand to retain their office, you are commanded to REMAIN in subjection to thedivinely ordained posicion which theyhold.You pay respect to God by respectingthe men who hold their offices by God'spermission and authority. Until He removes them, you would be rebellingagainst the will of God by refusing tohonor the posirions which such repre-sentatives exercise.It is so hard for human beings to conceive this principle because nearly everyone has been deceived frorn childhoodby the fable that God has nothing whatsoever to do with the civil governmentsof chis world. Perhaps you were nevertold chat the right to exercise authorityover human beings is solely the pre-rogative of the divine Creator. Human


6/16

Page 6beings do not inherently have the rightor the ability to rule properly over fellow human beings. But God is a God oforder, not confusion. Since men won'tsubmit to His own government andlaws, He has given permission in thisage, before the return of Jesus Christ,that men may exercise authority in allphases of life.Human beings in any position maybe serving themselves and the devil, butthe OFFICE is ordained of God! Youhonor the person because of the officewhich he holds, even though his deedsmay be evil.

Example of Saul and DavidConsider the case of Saul and David.

King Saul ob tained his pos it ion fromGod, as do all rulers. Saul was disobediem to the Eternal and David knew it.Did David therefore rebel and seek toorganize the people to remove him fromoffice?No. Instead, David said this: "TheLord shall smite him; or his day shallcome to die; or he shall descend intobatt le and perish. The Eternal forbidthat I should stretch forth mine handagainst the Eternal 's anointed." (1 Sam.26:9-11)Notice that David recognized thefact that it is God's right to put personsout of office. I t could not be the people'sright since the people have never beengiven the right in God's sight to pu tsuch men into office in the first place.David respected and honored and submitted to the office which Saul exercised.He left ir in the Lord's hands to removehim from office. Christians must do rhesame.Nebuchadnezzar had to learn thistruth, and it took him seven gruelingyears. He finally admitted after gaininghis sanity that "the Most High ruleth inthe kingdom of men, and giveth it towhomsoever He will, and serteth upover it the BASEST OF MEN." (Daniel4:17; 2:21)I f God decides to place in office theleast capable and the basest men, because.o f the sins of the people, who arewe to condemn the wise judgment ofGod? And strange as it may be, it isoj ten the people, who, in their a ttemptto make themselves wiser than God,elect the least capable, ACCORDING TO

THE PLANNED FOREKNOWLEDGE OFTHE ETERNAL GOD.God never sanctions the corrupt ion,the abuses of office holders. Neithershould you. Your obligation is merelyto respeer the authority of the office,not the cor rupt deeds, the g ifts of minkcoats, the lucrative vote-getting jobs.Is Submission Always Obedience?There are certain powerful churches,

The GOOD NEWSparticularly in Europe, but also in America, which teach that human governmentis not only of divine origin, but thatrespect for authority and submission toofficialdom means TOTAL UHEDIENCETO LEADERS and even dictators.This teaching is absolutely false!Jesus' words in Matthew 23:2-4 arequoted to support this terr ible error. In

speaking to the multitude and the disciples, Jesus said: "The scribes and thePharisees sit in Moses' seat: all thereforewhatsoever they bid you observe, thatobserve and do . . ." It is at this pointthat these denominations Stop quotingthe words of Jesus to give the impression that you must observe everythingthat a person in authority commands.But what did Jesus continue to say?"But do NOT ye after the ir works: forthey say, and do not."There it is. Those Jewish religiousleaders taught part of the truth, butthey themselves were not obeying thetruth. Therefore Jesus had to instructthe people that the religious authorityof the scribes and Pharisees must berespected. They were to observe whatever truth was preached, but they werenot to follow the error,In Acts 4: 19 you are given the trueBible definition of "submission." Thedisciples were commanded to disobeyGod. What did they say to the authorities? That obedience to God is moreimpor tant than obedience to men. Notice, however, that the apostles did norresist them. They submitted to the pen-alty imposed by thei r accusers. (Acts5:40)Thus you have the true relationshipthat should exist between every Christian and the human government underwhich he lives. You are to honor andrespect authority and submi t to everyordinance of man. ONLY when obedienceto human rules and regulations wouldviolate the laws of God should yousteadfastly decline to obey. But thenyou must submit to the penalty. So saidthe apostle Peter.

What Does Peter Command?The apostle Peter recognized the importance of Christians' relationships tohuman government. He had the courage

to preach the truth to the congregations.Here is what he said: "Submit yourselvesto every ordinance of man for the Lord'ssake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto themthat are sent by him for the punishmentof evildoers, and for the praise of themtha t do well. FOR SO IS THE WILL OFGOD. . . Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."Take careful note of his wording."Submit yourselves to every ordinance."Peter did not say, "Obey every ordi-

October, 1 9 5 ~nance." Of course not, because he knewthat many human regulations werewrong. Here again you can see that Peterintends that all Christians should obeywhenever possible, and always submitto the penalty in case obedience to ahuman law would be sin.Christians are always to be examplesof perfect submission to governmentregulations, no matter how childish orabsurd some stipulations may be. "Besubject to principalities and powers ...to be ready to every good work, to speakevil of NO man." (Titus 3:1, 2)Is I t Wrong to Speak Evil of Officials?

It is a common pract ice for people toresist government regulations and toaccuse office holders, whether the President or the corner policeman. This supposed "right" of the people is beingabominably misused. There is a righteousl imit co the "freedom" of speech.The Bible sets that limit by command

ing you to ref rain from speaking evilof dignitaries. Solomon said you are notto curse officials even in your thoughts.(Ecc. 10:20)It is reproachful to Christ as well as adishonor to His authority for Christiansto hurl or to repeat needless accusationsagainst rulers. This, of course, does notmean that you can 't say anything abouta man's mistakes. Rather it means thatno gossip or misrepresentation of factswhich damage a person's character is tobe repeated.Christians should not fight the government in its own courts as certain deceived religious seers sometimes GO.Rather submit, and pati ent ly pray forGod to change the circumstances according to His will.Most Christians ought to pray moreearnestly that their minds and heartswould be free from slanderous thoughts,

NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE PERSONSEEMS TO DESERVE THEM. Not even therighteous Michel accused Satan. Hecalmly said, "The Lord rebuke thee."Only the ungodly dig up evil to throwneedlessly at their enemies. (Pro.16:27)There is also another important pointwhich has often been overlooked. InRomans 13:4 , you read that Christiansare to "be afraid" of government power,if they have committed evil. Yet Jesustaught us not to fear man, but ratherfear God (Luke 12: 5 ). How can youreconcile these verses?By the fact that Christians are notactually to be afraid of the men in office, but rather "of the power" whichthey wield by God's permission. Youfear their authority because they are theservants or revengers of God to curbcrime. In reality, then, you are onlyPlease r;ontinue on page 9


7/16

How to Keep the SabbathHere are some basic principles which will answer many of thequestions you have been asking. Unless you know the PUR-POSE of the Sabbath, you can't understand HOW to keep it.

by Rod Meredith

YOU ARE "missing our" on a lot ofthe good things in life. There ISa reason!Life lacks the real meaning and purpose it should have. "Every day is thesame old thing!" you hear so many people say,But God didn' t intend it that way!He has given us a specific blessing,which, when REALLY understood, appreciated, and rightly used, will give usthe zest for life that we otherwise lack,This blessing is God's Sabbath Day.You need a new insight into thiscommand, Here is an article that willbetter enable you to receive the richblessing intended,Recent issues of the "Good News"and the "Plain Truth" contained articleson "The Sign of a Christian" and "Has

Time Been Lost?" These articles provedthat the true Sabbath was to be a signbetween God and Hi5 chi ldren forever,and tha t the true seventh day has neverbeen "mixed-up" or "lost."Made fo r Man

Christ said, "The sabbath was madefor man, and not man for the sabbath"(Mark 2: 27) , He didn't say'it was madefor the Jew, bur for MAN-for all man-kind in other words. And it was madefor hjm as a blessing.

Keep this principle in mind. It wasmade for you, to help you, to enable youto live a happier and more godly life.God's true sabbath is one of the greatest blessings that has ever been bestowed upon mankind. It signifies thatthe Creator is our God and we are His

c h i l d ~ e n ,Our Creator knew that we wouldneed a period of rest every seventh day,and this is one of many opportunities

the sabbath affords. Each of us tends tobecome overly absorbed in our dailycares during the week, bu t God foresawthis, and set aside the sabba th as a timewhen we can completely forget ourroutine work and get closer to God instudy, meditation, and prayer.The wonderful part of it all is thatwe can keep this period of rest andspiritual revival with complete confidence tha t God will bless and prosperus because we have done this! If wewould quit working every few days andtake a needed rest, we might naturally

expect to get behind in our finances andmaterial pursuits. But God has said justthe opposite! So if we keep His HolyDay, we can rest assured that it will begain instead of loss, even looking at itmaterially,Do you realize what this amounts to?God is giving us a paid vacation everyseventh day!Human reasoning might not graspthis right at first. But God has promisedthis, and the experiences of hundredsof people have shown that God meant

what he said. You may not be prosperedimmediately if you begin keeping God'scouunaudmerus and paying your t ithefaithfully, as He has commanded. Butin His way and time, God will begin tobless and prosper you in ways that youmay never have expected.In Isaiah 58: 13-14, God inspired Isaiah to write that if we kept the sabbathand del ighted in it, we would rememberHim and He would cause us to havelife in abundance, spiritua lly and materially. Notice that we are not to seekour own pleasure on the sabbath. Yet,weare to delight in it. This means thatwe should be so busy doing good toochers, and getti ng closer to God inprayer and study, that we will not evendesire to seek any ear thly amusements.We will be HAPPY because we are ableto rest, to worship God with peace ofmind, and because we have a specialt ime to do good.

This same passage says we are no t tospeak our own words on the sabbath.What does this mean? It shows that weshould not spend the sabbath in idletalk, bu t should be reading, discussingand meditating upon God's word. Thenwe will be drinking in the ideas of Godinstead of mere human notions. Whata privilege it is to have a whole day inwhich we can read and discuss the wayof life that is revealed to us in the Bible.In order tha t we may have our mindsfree from last minute duties on thesabbath, God has commanded that weprepare for it the day before. Exodus16:22-25 shows that we should do anybaking or time consuming boiling before the sabbath. Long hours of cookingand stewing should never clutter UIJGod's day.So do all your "sprucing up" and anyheavy cooking on Friday, the prepara-

tion day. Then at sunset Friday evening,when the sabbath begins, you will haveput all worldly cares aside and will beable to enter the sabbath in a spirit ofrejoicing and worship toward God.

Duties on SabbathYour time should never "drag" onGod's sabbath! Some people experiencethis when they first begin to keep diesabbath, but it certainly isn't the wayGod intended. When we understand itproperly, the sabbath will be filled with

interest and joy.The true sabbath is not a negativething!Christ set us an example of how tokeep it. In Mark 2: 23 to 3: 5, Jesusshowed that it was all right to procurefood on the sabbath if it is necessary.He told the Pharisees that He was Lordof the sabbath-not, Sunday! ThenChirst healed an infirm man on the sabbath, and showed tha t it is lawful to dogood on that day.

What kind of good should we do onthe sabbath day?God commanded in Exodus 20: 10,that we should not work on the sabbath.So the kind of good that we do on thatday is not the kind of hard physicallabor which we might do on other days."Doing good" is not to be used as anEXCUSE for performing those materialduties, however helpful to others, whichcan just as well be done some other day.There is one exception to this prohibition. That is in the case of an "ox inthe ditch" (Luke 14: 5). This refers toa genuine emergency, not some materialduty you "put off" until the sabbath.

The principal example of doing goodon the sabbath that Christ gave us wasthat of healing the sick or infirm thatcame to Him, (Matt. 12:9-13). He didnot go abroad seeking them. Also, wefind that He was constantly meetingwith others and teaching them God'sways on this day. We can all use thesabbath as a time to comfort and minister to those who are sick and infirmon this day. But this does not mean thatwe should burden ourselves with purelymaterial services. Jesus didn' t when hehelped the sick according to their faith,Remember what he told Martha: "Thouart careful and troubled about manythings: But one thing is needful: and


8/16

Page 8Mary hath chosen that good part, whichshall not be taken away from her."(Luke 10:41,42). We should especiallytry to help those who are interested inrhe- true teachings of the Bible, becausein this way we can minister to themboth spiritually and physically.As we shall find later, we are to meetwith other true worshippers on the sab

bath. But if this is impossible, we maywell use the sabbath as an opportuni tyto meet with others who we know arereally interested in the truth, to explainthe Bible to them in thei r own homes.We are not to attempt to force God'st ruth on people at any time. Bur we arealways to be ready and willing to explainthe Bible to anyone who is sincerelyseeking God. Some of our brethren inTexas use a portion of the sabbath forthis purpose and have helped a greatmany people in their community tocome to a better knowledge of God.STUDY the word of God (I I Tim. 2:

15)! This should usually be your firstduty on the sabbath. Then you will beready to answer the questions of thoseyou are trying to help ( I Peter 3: 15) .Remember that the principal command is to rest from our usual rourineon the sabbath, and to worship God andremember him as Creator. The Biblereveals that "doing good" on the sabbathis serving others in a way that showsthe power of God in our lives. Christdidn't labor for several hours to heal thesick on the sabbath. Instead, He invokedthe very power of the Creator to releaseothers from the bonds of sickness. So

we should not spend most of the sabbathcaring for the physical needs of otherpeople. By drawing closer to God onthis day, we will then be able to helpothers in a LASTING way thru the powerof God's Spirit."Sewing for charity" and other physical services may be worthy at the propertime, bu t such routine labor should notfill up God's sabbath day.Physical things will "perish with theusing." So use the sabbath primarily tolearn God's ways and make them a partof your character-and help others todo the same. The Spirit of God in youwill last forever!

Commanded AssemblyIn Luke 4: 16, we find that Christcustomarily met with others on the sabbath and read from God's word. Lev.23: 1-3 tells us that the sabbath is to bea holy conuoc.stion for God's people. Aconvocation is a commanded assembly.God commands you to convoke or meetwith other true believers whenever thisis possible on the sabbath.However, this does not mean that youare to meet on that day or any othe r day

The GOOD NEWSwith those who are blinded to God'struth and refuse to keep all His commandments. Paul commanded Christiansin II Cor. 6:14, "Be ye not unequallyyoked together with unbelievers: forwhat fellowship hath righteousness withunrighteousness and wha t communionhath light with darkness?"Christian fellowship should be with

other people ONLY thru God and hisSpirit. God gives the Holy Spirit to themthat obey Him (Acts 5: 32). So remember that you cannot have true fellowshipthru Satan, or his ministers, or hischurches who refuse to obey God's commandments.When it was impossible to meet withothers in a church on the sabbath day,the apostle Paul and his helpers "wentour of the city by a river side, whereprayer was wont to be made." (Acts16: 13). This is an admirable examplefor many of us, because get ting closerto the natural handiwork of the Creator

brings one closer to God. The hand ofGod is seen in everything good andbeauriful. Notice that instead of goingto the river to fish, as so many do onthe "day of the Sun," Paul went to a riverto help others seek God in prayer.A Light to the WorId

Chris t told his followers, "Ye are thelight of the world" Matt. 5: 14. Howmuch the world needs people who willfearlessly show it the way our of thisspiritual darkness!But can you be a "light" to other people while cont inuing in the same man

made doctrines and practices they do?NO you can't! You must live by God'sword to show forth the true light thatwill eventually turn people from darkness. You must be DIFFERENT fromother people by obeying God-by having his SIGN. Most people won 't likeyou for doing this. Christ said in John3: 19, "And this is the condemnation,that light is come into the world, and

men loved darkness rather than light,because their deeds were evil." Men wereso steeped in thei r own customs, thenas now, tha t the true l ight of the gospeloffended them.So you can see that real Christianityis not the way to be popular with men!Bur doesn't this show what an important "light" your keeping of the sabba th can be to others? It is a SIGN thatsets you apart from those following thebroad way that leads to destruction.

Special ProblemsIt is easy to use the latitude and privileges of the sabbath as a means to abuseit. You should not be overly strict orself-righteous like the Pharisees. On theother hand, humans are usually inclined

October, 1952to "stretch" the freedom God gives usand begin doing our own work or pleasure on the sabbath.

Taking a walk on the sabbath is fineso long as it doesn't turn into a "hike."Some people ask about the ment ion of"a sabbath day's journey" in Acts 1:12.There is no special command anywherein the Bible limit ing travel on the sab.bath. This "sabbath day's journey" wasa custom of the Jews and is not a biblical command. However, you certainlyshouldn't walk or drive so far on thesabbath as to tire yourself unduly or tointerfere with your worship of God.After sitting in church or studying forsome time, a leisurely walk is very refreshing and beneficial. Also, a lengthydrive is sometimes necessary to enableyou to meet with other true worshipperson the sabbath. Within reason, this isnot wrong. It serves to st rengthen youspiritually and therefore glorifies God.Here is another problem?Should you kindle a fire on the Sabbath Day?The command in Exodus 35: 3 wasinserted in connection with instructionsregarding work on the tabernacle. Itwas chiefly intended to forbid the kindl ing of a fire to melt metals or sharpentools. However, it certainly can referto unnecessary work done in preparingfood which could be prepared on the daybefore.So it would not be breaking the spiritof the law to light a fire for heat inwintry weather or to warm up previously prepared food.Feeding and watering stock is necessary on the sabbath and permissible(Luke 13: 15). BM if you are raising somany cattle or chickens that your"chores" add up to three or four hours'hard work, then you had better cur downon the number of your livestock or elsechange occupations. Our age of "specialization," when a few farmers becomevir tual slaves to provide food for hundreds of city dwellers, is not God's way.No man should be "tied down" to hisoccupation as so many are today.DON'T try to justify breaking the sab

bath by saying that "your. occupation requires it"! Remember that this worldly,competitive system is called "Babylon"in the Bible and you are commanded to"come our of her" (Rev. 18:1 -4) .Instruct Children

God inspired Solomon to write "trainup a child in the way he should go andwhen he is old, he will not depart fromit" (Pro. 22:6). This command wouldcertainly apply to teaching your child tokeep the sabbath. However, you shouldremember that even sweet little childrenare by no means converted. They are


9/16

October, 1952basically selfish, and usually lack the understanding and will power to keepGod's law as an adult.

EM they should be taught to restfrom their routine work or play on thesabbath as much as possible. They shouldbe instructed in a kindly and straightforward manner that the seventh day isholy to their Heavenly Father, and thatthey can show their love for Him by refraining from their usual play on thatday and thinking and learning aboutGod.Your children should be taught thesethings gradually and only as the ir agemakes it possible for them to understand. If trained properly from infancy,a ten or twelve year old child shouldhave enough respect for God's sabbaththat he does not spend his time reading"funny books" or listening to radio serials on that day.Love and chastening must go hand inhand in . this training. But a child sotrained in God's ways would have apriceless advantage in his knowledge oflife and its real meaning in relation tothe Creator.

Holy TimeIn Exodus 20:8, we find the originalcommand, "Remember the sabbath dayto keep it HOLY." Never forget th atGod has made the seventh day holytime! You and I are commanded to keepit t ha t way.I have already shown you in God'sword that we are not to do our ownwork, pleasure, think our own thoughts,or speak our own words on God's Sab

bath Day.To keep the sabbath day holy:You can't spend a lot of time inworldly visiting or "shooting the breeze,"or even "courting your girL"You can't be running down town fora cup of coffee or an ice-cream soda.That kind of procuring food is entirely

UNNECESSARY.You can't spend several hours listening to worthless radio programs or reading the "funnies."You can't wait until after sunset onFriday evening to begin your cleaningup and preparing for the sabbath, unless, of course, a genuine emergency hasinterfered.I could go on, but I think you shouldget the point and grasp the principle involved.Let's NOT "kid" ourselves!When Goel saiel to put the sabbathday to a HOLY use, He meant exactlywhat He said. But we should learn tobe so happily employed in doing thegood things prescribed for that day, thatwe will have no time or inclination toviolate the prohibitions anyway.

The GOOD NEWSSo let's keep the sabbath in a positiveway! Use the sabbath as a day to restfrom worldly labor, to get closer to Godin prayer and study. Take time to do

good to others, to care for the sick, tovisit the afflicted. Assemble with othertrue believers on the sabbath if this ispossible. Then you will truly be a "light"to those around you.The sabbath separates true Christiansfrom this world's churches with thei rpagan holidays and "day of the sun." SO

KEEP holy the days God made holy!Rejoice in the blessings and opportunities that the sabbath affords, and remember that it is a SIGN between you andthe true God.

GovernmentAuthorityContinued from page 6

fear ing the power of God who gave thisauthority to rulers.When you do good, you "may boldlysay, 'The Lord is my helper, and I willNOT fear what man shall do unto me.' "(Hebrews 13:6)Is the Payment of Taxes Necessary?Now comes an often misunderstoodpare of this vital message. Should youpay taxes if you are a Christian? If so,why?Paul said that Christians MUST PAY

TAXES, CUSTOM DUTIES AND TRIBUTEto those in authority. Why? "For theyare God's ministers," His servants, "attending continually upon this verything." It is their job, their work to regulate society and to punish crime. Theyare worthy of their hire.Because of covetousness, especiallywhen income tax or land tax bills appear, some seize upon the words ofJesus in Matthew 17:24-27 as an excusefor failure to pay taxes. Notice whatJesus really said: Christians, being freeand heirs of the Kingdom of God,should not be required to pay tribute toa foreign government, "notwithstanding, lest we should offend them .give unto them" the tax.Yes, Christ commands you, just as

Paul did, to pay taxes, and they shouldnot be paid grudgingly either. It is theright of leaders to receive remunerationfor thei r duty. But what if officials arenot performing the ir duty properly orare squander ing tax money for privateambition? Are you to pay taxes?Certainly. As long as any person is inoffice, you are to honor that office bysubmitting to it. It is so easy to forget

that human beings are not the judges ofone another, bur God is the Judge. Officials are not responsible to the people,but to God. Your responsibility ceases

Page 9once you have honestly paiel the tax orthe duty. It is the official's responsibilityto see that he properly administers themoney.Although this is the day of exorbitantly high taxation, you should neverfear that God will fail to provide theamount necessary to conform to statelaws. Jesus provided Peter with the ex

tra tribute money beyond the normal increase. (Matthew 17:24-27)Prayer for Officials

In the days of the Roman Empire,when Jesus was training his disciples, itwas the custom of the government tocompel people to carry mai l and goodsbelonging to the Empire. Jesus referredto this forced practice when he said,"Whosoever shall compel thee to go amile, go with him twain." (Matthew5:41 )Notice that Jesus taught submission,not resistance.Today the government does not compel its citizens to bear this responsibility. How thankful have you been for thisfact, as well as for all the other benefitstha t have accrued in the fields of communications, transportation and publicsafety? It is so easy to forget and toneglect Paul's admonition that "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giv-

ing of thanks, be made for all men: forkings, and FOR ALL THAT ARE IN AU-THORITY; that we may lead a quiet andpeaceable life in godliness and honesty.For this is good and acceptable in thesight of God our Saviour." (1 Timothy2: 1-3)Now do you see that the Father hasestablished earthly governments to keeporder until His Kingdom should come?I t is your commanded duty to submitto them, patiently, excusing the obviousfaults inherent in human leadership. Itis your pr ivilege as a Christ ian not to beburdened with the heavy responsibilitiesof this complex world, but rather torecognize that all human history is arecord of the tragedy of human self-direction contrasted with obedience toGod.The Scripture is given to make known

to us the fact that all d#thority belongsto the God Family. We are not to takeit upon ourselves to mix with thisworld 's faltering society, but rather tocall others out 'of the error of humanself-rule. By growing in patience andunderstanding, we shall be born into thefamily of God and have His powers andabilities and character which will enableus to rule the world in righteousness.(Dan. 2:44; Rev. 3:21; Rom. 8:19)What are you doing about your eternacalling and selection? Are you makingit sure by obeying every word of God?


10/16

Paul Came This Wayby Herman L Hoeh

THE CITY of Rome. Called by menthe "Eternal City." Over nineteencenturies ago the apostle Paul cameto this remarkable city as a prisoner .I t has been our blessing to travel overpart of the same route t aken by Paul ashe finally reached the capital of rheRoman Empire. Paul was greeted bybrethren who came as far as Appiiforum(Acts 28: 15). We are a lone now, nineteen centuries later, bu t at least we arefree men. A great change has takenplace over the centuries in the people,bu t very l it tle has changed over the OldAppian Way, or Appia Antica as it isnow called. A service station, new homesand new pavement are here.Dick Armstrong and I have traveledin an open horse-drawn buggy, the kindof taxi so common in Southern Europe.I t provided us wi th a sen timental viewof the past as we passed from the wellpreserved wall of old Rome along a fewmi les of the Old Appian Way. Fig trees,bamboo and other low growing shrubs,bushes and trees appear behind anc!sometimes hang over the walls that areon either side of the Way. The wallshave often been repaired through thecenturies, but they retain much of the irpicturesqueness.

Whole blocks in the city of Rome,which we were JUSt leaving by buggy,contain well preserved remains of ancient Rome. Here the peop le cl ing tothe greatness of the past. In one way itis beautiful, in another it is nor. Ruinsare the results of human war and humanfailure. It was to lay the foundat ion forthe Kingdom of God which will changecivilization and bring peace, tha t Paulcame to Rome along this way so manycenturies ago.The reason for ou r tr ip was to visitthe Catacombs of St. Sebast ian, locateda few kilometers f rom the old city wallon the Old Appian Way. We wish thatmost of you could have taken this visitto the catacombs of early cen tury professing Christians. It is a never-to-beforgotten experience. Also it provides aninsight into the CHANGES THAT OCCURRED IN THE EARLY CHURCH ASTHE TRUTH WAS STAMPED OUT BYAPOSTACY.Most visitors take for granted thatthese catacombs, and also many other slocated nearby, were the centers of refuge for the early true Christians whenthey were persecuted by the RomanEmpire. This assumpt ion is false as we

quickly saw upon entering them. Theearly true Chri st ians were not persecuted nearly as much by the paganRoman Empire of the Caesars as theywere by the later apostate Church. Thebook of Revelation shows that it is thewoman, a picture of this apostate church,not the civil government, that is drunkwith the blood of the martyrs of Jesus(Revelation 17).Actually most of the early persecutions by the Roman Empire were directed against apostatizing Christians whowere seeking to gain control of the Em-pire and to subst itute their religion forthat of the existing one by means of"Christianizing" pagan rites. Because ofthis persecution, those early apostateshad to go underground in order to continue their rites. How coincidental thisis with the description in Revelation 13tha t the second beas t (this apostate religious system which has gripped theworld ever s ince) came up out of theground! That is not only symbolic-itoccurred literally!Along with many o ther visitors, wewere invited in to the Church of St. Sebastian, which is built over the catacombs, by a member of one of theChurch orders. He exp lained mos t ofthe details to us in English. The churchis many centuries old and in need of repair. Inside was a beau ti fu l carved andpainted cei ling, a detai l of which represented the martyrdom of Sebast ian, forwhich he was called "Saint" Sebastian.On the right wall of the Church, enclosed in a glass case, are the supposedfootprints of Jesus made by him at alater appearance. This is one of the hundreds of traditions of the Church, thefables against which Paul warned. (2Tim. 4:4)Dupl icat ions of these foo tp rint s arein the Quo Vadis Church, located onlya short dis tance from these catacombs,on the Appian Way. Tradition, not fact,claims that at the site of the Quo VadisChurch, Peter was met by Jesus as hewas fleeing from the Romans . Aftersupposedly see ing the Lord he returnedto face martyrdom, hanging upside downfrom a cross.

Next to the footprints and also enclosed in glass is an arrow, presumed tobe one of those which brought dea th toSebastian. Exactly opposite these relicsthe statue of St. Sebastian appears in areclining position, pierced by four arrows.

From the level of the church floor wedescended to the catacombs below.Walking single file down a narrowstairway, we soon emerged inca a largeunderground room, wherein were altarsused for religious services by early bishops. The bishops who used the altarswere leaders in the apostacy. There arecrude images of Jesus and a cross aswell as ritual parchments used in theidolatrous beg inn ings of the mass andSunday communion.

Then came the catacombs. We followed in single file in the narrow passage ways, guided at first by recently installed electric lights, and then only bycandle light. Often the monk conducting the tour would Stop to l ight var iouscandles located on the dir ty s tone wallsbeneath pictures and images of saintsand Mary. There are several larger roomsalong the p:lss:lge ways which descendinto the earth at least four stories. Inthese rooms we could see the remains ofbroken ea rthen jars used for oil whichwere buried in niches in the walls. Below and above are other niches containing skulls and a few important bones.Sometimes the graves are l it tle coffinsof stone on the floors of the underground rooms. The tops were removedand the bones are lying in open view.A strange sensation came over usupon thinking of the resurrection. Someof these people would finally come forthin the day of judgment and have theirdeceived minds opened for the firsttime. It is wonderful to think of the planof God and to visualize his power toimpart material life into such humanremains.Perhaps some of the decaying boneswere of those people who heard theapostle Paul preach against giving heedto fables, but who rejected his preaching. For them there is no hope of repentance. "For it is impossible for thosewho were once enlightened ... if theyshall fall away, to renew them again torepentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and pu thim to an open shame." (Hebrews 6)For eight miles these catacombs cont inue benea th the church in several levels. It is a ver itable city of the dead containing 174,000 graves. The dark, bleakhallways and the various little roomsgive an awesome feeling of the terribleness of rh.u mystery of iniquity thatsupp lan ted the t ru th of God wi th paganrites and finally was able to come above


11/16

October, 1952ground and conquer the Empire.Following the faint light of the wooden stick which held the candle, weemerged exactly beneath the church inthe most amazing part of the entirecatacombs. Here before our eyes werethree pagan tombs antedating the Christian Church. They were unknown toour world until 1919 when they wereexcavated, but they were known to theearly apostate Christians. In fact thevery reason for building the church andthe catacombs at this site was that thepagan Romans had been conductingmany of their mysterious rites underground and were also burying their deadin this place. Those Romans were adopting the apostating Christian religion andwere continuing to frequent the sameplaces of religious service.Many of the early Catholic churcheswere merely dedicated Roman temples.And Roman tombs became CatholicChristian tombs. The most beautiful ofthe three tombs in the Catacombs of St.Sebastian is that' of Clodius Hermes. Onits very well preserved walls are picturesof ancient swastikas, and of birds, one ofwhich may have represented Osiris, thefamous god of Egypt. These orientalmystery rel igions provided many converts to the early Catholic Church. Soin order to sanctify this most colorfullydecorated tomb, a tradition was developed that this t omb was the burial placeof the apostles Peter and Paul beforethey were supposedly removed in latercenturies. Peter was sent to the Houseof Israel, not to Gentiles (Gal. 2: 7;Mat. 10:6).So widespread did this false traditionbecome that upon the walls above weobserved many invocations to the apostles made in succeeding centuries ofpersecution. The invocation of sainrsand the doctrine of the communion ofsaints-is of totally pagan origin. Itstemmed from the custom of invokingthe tutelary gods of the pagan world.Most of the inscriptions are hardly legible and very crudely done in stone.It was indeed a profitahle experienceto come here to see first hand the placeswhere the mystery of iniqu ity worked,but how glad we were when we emergedinro the warmth of daylight .FASCISM Revives

C on tin ue d from page 4people, Italy exists in potential dangerof the slowly reviving neo-Fascist party.No matter how much any of US wouldlike to see a workable solution for Italy,we must face the facts. Prophecy showsthat no human being will produce theright solution. There are too many religious, political and racial groups inopposition.

The GOOD NEWSThe time is c om in g when Americanaid will diminish and finally cease.

When I mentioned to the Italian representative in the foreign office aboutdrought and depression curtailing United States aid, he appeared frightened.Everywhere Europeans are afraid to facethe eventual curtai lment of Americanhelp.In such a situation, he said that Europe would have to UNITE IMMEDi

ATELY, or perish. All the petty grievances would melt away. Italy and Yugoslavia would have to come to immediate agreement over the disputed FreeTerritory of Trieste. Italy needs the rawmaterials of Yugoslavia and Tiro'sYugoslavia needs the manufacturedgoods of Italy.How European Unity Will BeAchieved by the Vatican

At present, Italy is having a great dealof difficulty solving its Trieste problem.The city of Trieste is coveted by bothYugoslavia and Italy. Because Italy lostseveral hundred thousand men in WorldWar I in order to take Trieste from theAustrian Empire which at that time controlled the area, Italy feels it would .beunjust to relinquish claim to the bloodily won city' and adjacent territory. TheAllies who administer Trieste by a military occupation have allowed the Italiansa fairly firm' grasp over some domesticmatters in Trieste. But Ti to claims thesame rights also.In our conference, I asked what meansmight be sought to bring about anamicable solution. I suggested the Catholic Church. To this suggestion I received an impor tant response. "TheCatholic Church," said the Italian representative, "can not afford to risk herprestige in tbis matter. The Church mustmaintain the status of a power abovehuman civil government. For the Churchto enter as a mediator in any of Europe'squarrels, either in the Saar or in Trieste,would involve too great a possibility offailure at the present time. The Churchdoesn't dare fail when she acts."I learned, however, that Italians, andalso other Europeans, would welcomethe intervention of the Pope and hisdiplomats should the need become im-perative. If American aid would ceaseas a result of drought and depression,Europe would have no other place toturn but to the Vatican. The Vaticancould UN ITE IT IMMEDIATELY by acting as an inter-European mediator. Thisis what the prophecy of Revelation 17shows will happen. There is going to bea united Europe of ten nations ruledover by the Church which is pictured asa great whore. These ten nations consti tute the last revival of the "beast" orFascist system which has engulfed this

Page 11world for thousands of years under various names.Coupled with the prophesied cessation of American help will be an inevitable growth of dictators. Except Inthe democratic countries of NorthwestEurope, the presenr governments inGermany, Austria, Italy and even Francewill turn into dictatorships. In Austria,Italy and France it is only American dollars that have kept democratic governments in power. When this help is cutoff, the only solution to Europe's impending economic and poli tical doomwill be a revival by revolution or election of "strong men." There are alreadydictators in two Catholic countries,Spain and Portugal.American officials in our State Department don 't know what lies ahead inEurope. They are blind to the fact thatyour tax money has not re-educated theItalian mind, or the minds of other Europeans. Fascist ideas about the rightof conquest are very much alive in Italy.Although no great leaders have yet appeared in the strife-ridden neo-Fascistmovement, recenr elections have shownthat the people would follow anothergreat "strong man" if he would promiseItaly relief for her surplus people. Sincepeaceful immigration into foreign countries is not possible, the only othermeans which Italy knows is CONQUEST.Yes, a revival of Fascism in a unitedEurope is prophesied. Aided by generous American help, and also the secretmili tary and economic schemes of theNazi Underground, it will turn to pathsof war. It will be a "just war," approvedby the Church, to solve Europe's population problem and to forestall supposedAmerican aggression. Many of you maybe surprised to know tha t it is commongossip among Europeans that Russia isnot now going to attack, but that theUni ted States is threatening war by itspolicy of containment.This coming United Europe willshock the world. It will happen sudden-ly, just as the Italian representat ive inthe Foreign Office told The Churchwill act as a mediator to solve Europe'sinternal controversies. Europeans wantto live in peace together. They are willing to give up some of their claims ifonly thei r neighbors are wil ling to dothe same. But Europe has not learnedto live at peace with the rest of theworld. Italians still feel cheated thatthey have no empire. The Germanswant to get even with the defeat of thelast war. Neither Tiro nor Franco loveAmerica. The average Frenchman thinksnothing of "gouging" American tourists.

It is in this kind of atmosphere thatWorId War III is being bred at thisvery moment.


12/16

Page 12The MARK of the

BEASTContinued from page 2

flesh could be saved. But, FOR THESAKE OF GOD'S PERSECUTED SAINTSthose days shall be shortened.God shall intervene. Christ shall"come quickly."

MARK Then, and NowNow compare with these Scriptures:In Revelation 17, picturing this sameChurch as the great whore riding thebeast, John writes: "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saintsand with the blood of the martyrs ofJesus." (verse 6) .Also: Rev. 20:4-"And I saw thrones,and they sat upon them, and judgmentwas given unto them: and I saw thesouls of them that were beheaded forthe witness of Jesus, and for the word

of God, and which had not worsh ippedthe beast, neither his image, neitherhad received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands; and they livedand reigned with Christ a thousandyears."Now we see WHY these many millions were, and shall be martyred! I twas because they refused to receive thismark of the beast-s-refused to juin inthis worship of Church and Empire!They obeyed GOD rather than man!Their lives were governed by GOD. Theywere the children, the heirs, the futurecitizens, of HIS KINGDOM, not thekingdoms of men. But-note it well!they were, as God commands, SUBJECTto the governmentof MAN. They did notresist-they yielded themselves subjectto the PENALTY. They were torturedthey were killed! But they obeyed thegovernment of God rather than manwhere there was conflict. And, at Christ'scoming to rule the world as KING ofkings, they shall all be lesser priests andkings UNDER HIM, and RULE THEWORLD!Do you see what this plainly reveals?Those martyrs, over a thousand yearsago, were killed BECAUSE they wouldnot worship the Roman Catholic Church,conform to its idolatry and pagan beliefsand customs, or worship the so-called"Holy Roman Empire,"-andBEcAuSEthey refused to receive the MARK of thebeast!This means the MARK of the Beast issomething that was forced on people,on pain of being killed, more than athousand years ago! The MARK of theBeast was in full existence and enforcement over a thousand years ago!

BUT, since it is those who have themark of the beast who shall suffer theseven last plagues at Christ' s coming,

The GOOD NEWSTHAT DREAD MARK IS ONCE AGAINTOBE ENFORCED! And those who refuseit are those who shall be MARTYRED inthe coming GREAT TRIBULATION!Now we begin to find real light shedon this baffling question!

Warning of Third AngelSoon, now, the t ime is coming when

gross spiritual darkness will cover thisearth-when no human will be permi tted to preach Christ 's true Gospel. Wemust work while it is day-the night isfast drawing on when no man can work,for God.At that time God shall send angelswith His final warning to these apostatenations under sway of this great deceiving Church as a final witness againstthem. Th ree such angel messages areforetold in Revelation 14. Notice thefinal warning of the third angel:"I f any man worship the beast and hisimage, and receive his MARK in his fore

head or in his hand, the same shall drinkof the wine of the WRATH OF GOD"the seven last plagues, full force, unmixed with mercy! (Rev. 14:9-10).This shows tha t altho the MARK wasbranded on all but the martyrs over athousand years ago, it is STILL thebrand of apostate Rome today, and isONCE AGAIN to be enforced. Onceagain those who refuse it shall be martyred. But those who receive it SHALLSUFFER THE WRATH OF GOD WITHOUTMERCY!

You, dear reader, must soon choosewhom you will obey-this coming fascist Roman Empire resurrected by aUnited Na tions of EUROPE, ruled byRoman Catholicism-c-or whether youshall OBEY GOD!A Mark of Obedience

We begin now to see that the MARKof the Beast involves a point of OBEDI-ENCE-whether we shall OBEY GOD orreject the commandment of Godobey MAN'S rule.It has something to do, then, withthe COMMANDMENT OF GOD!Notice, there are two classes-c-onehas the MARK, the other rejects it andmartyred. Notice now the descripnon of those who refuse this evilMARK:"He re is the patience of the SAINTS:here are they that keep the COM-MANDMENTS OF GOD, and the FAITHOF JESUS." (Rev. 14:12).There it is! In verses 9-11 of thischapter the third angel warns that thosewho have the mark of the beast shallbe punished by the plagues of God.In the next verse, the 12th, the saintswho do not have the mark are thosewho KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OFGOD. Those who have the mark, there-

October, 1952fore, are those who REFUSE TO KEEPTHE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. TheMARK of the Beast, therefore, involvesa re jec tion of the COMMANDMENTS OFGOD, or of one of them, for if we breakone we are guilty of all (Jas. 2: 10).So, one class of people accepts the

MARK of the Beast.The other class keeps the Command

ments of God.Mark of Disobedience

Hence, whatever the Mark of theBeast may be, it means disobedience toGOD'S government-to the Commandments of God.Here's further proof-here are theywho get victory over this mark:Revelation 15:2-3: "And I saw as iwere a sea of glass mingled with fireand them that had gotten the victoryover beast, and over his image, andover his mark, and over the number ohis name, stand on the sea of glass hav

ing the harps of God. And they singthe sQng of Moses the servant of Godand the song of the Lamb, saying, 'Greaand marvelous are thy works, Lord GodAlmighty; JUSt and true are THY WAYSthou King of saints.' ''Thi s corresponds to the children oIsrael, delivered from Egyptian bondaguoder Moses. Moses was a type oChrist. Pharoah was the type and forerunner of this Beast. The plagues Godpoured on Egypt were a type of thlast plagues to be poured out on Babylon. The children of Israel stood on thshore of the Red Sea, and God miracu

lously delivered them. Here the saintof God are pictured on this symbolisea of glass.They sing the song of Moses, anthe song of the Lamb (Christ). Mosepictures Law and God's Commandments, the Lamb ( Christ) picturefa ith and salvation from sin.Remember, the Beast is the humacivil organizat ion of the devil. In Revelation 12, we find Satan stirred tgreat wrath "because he knoweth thahe hath but a short time." (Rev. 12: 12He then starts a great PERSECUTIONor TRIBULATION against the TRUChurch-the true saints of God. Thiis just prior to the second coming oChrist. (Verse 13). Now notice againwhom Satan is so wroth:"And the dragon (Satan) was wrotwith the woman (Church), and wento make war with the remnant (lasgeneration) of her seed, which keethe commandments of God, and havthe testimony of Jesus Christ (thBible)." (Verse 17).There is is again! Those keepinGod's COMMANDMENTS-those yielding themselves to God's RULE, and livin


13/16

October, 1952hy every Worrl of Goel-by the BIBLE-which is the written t es timony ofJesus Christ-they are the ones thedevil will persecute and martyr thru hisfalse Church and his Fascist re-bornEmpire!But Satan knows his own. He willbrand his own with a mark, so theyshall nor receive this persecution and

martyrdom, even as God pu t a mark onsinning Cain lest men finding him slayhim (See Genesis 4: 15). All who do notreceive Satan's brand-the MARK ofthe BEAST-will suffer Satan's wrathin the Tribulation.Thank God, those days shall be cutshort, for the elect's sake!Class on Whom Flagues Fal l

There are TWO classes of people.That class which receives the MARK ofthe Beast is the class upon whom thePLAGUES OF GOD will fall. So if wecan further identify those who shallreceive this WRATH OF GOD, and whyGod will thus punish them, we shallfurther identify what the Mark is.In Ephesians 5 Paul is telling Christians to flee fornication, covetousness,idolatry - transgressing the TEN COMMANDMENTS. Then he says: "for because of these things," ( t ransgressingGod's LAW) "cometh the WRATH OFGOD (last plagues) upon the children.of disobedience." (Eph. 5:6.)

How plain! The wrath of God-theseven last plagues-are coming on thosewho DISOBEY God, by violating theCOMMANDMENTS. The plagues fall upon those who have the mark of thebeast'Those who receive the plagues arebreakers of God's Commandments, andalso at the same time receivers' ofthe MARK! It becomes more and morep la in tha t the mark of the beast represents COMMANDMENT-BREAKING.Notice this again in Col. 3:5-6: "Mortify therefore your members which are\.!pon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which isidolatry: (transgressions of Ten Commandments): for which things' sake thewrath of God cometh on the childrenof disobedience."Notice it also in the prophecies ofthe Old Testament : "The great day ofthe Eternal (time of God' s wrath-thelast plagues) is near . . that day is aday of WRATH, a day of trouble anddistress . . . and I (God) will bringdistress upon men, and they shall walklike blind men (the PLAGUES! Butwhy?) because they have sinned againstthe ETERNAL." (Zeph. 1: 14-17). Whatis sin?"Sin is the transgression of the Law"( I John 3:4)-commandment breaking.

The GOOD NEWSThe TRUTH Becomes Plain!

Now, let's recapitulate! The t ru th ISbecoming plain!1) The "mark" plainly means the rejeering and breaking of God's COMMANDMENTS. And in J as. 2: 10-11,God says if we break only one of theCommandments, we are GUILTY ofbreaking the LAw-guilty of all!2) The ROMAN EMPIRE is the realauthor of this "mark." It is the markof the BEAST, not the woman who rodethe beast.3) The Roman Church caused peo

ple to be deceived into receiving thismark.4) Satan gave this Roman Empire itsseat and great authority-it is the political instrument thru which Satanworks, in deceiving the world.5) Those who refuse this "mark" are

prohibited from "buying or selling,"engaging in commerce, trade, or holdinga job.6) Many of those refusing this"mark" were, and shall again be, martyred because of their refusal-becausethey keep the Commandments of God!7) Therefore, the inevitable and

plain conclusion is that the "mark" issomething enforced by the Roman Catholic Church, originating in the paganismof the Roman Empire, which a cunning,deceiving devil would seize on as ameans of cleverly DECEIVING people intoBREAKING GOD'S TEN COMMANDMENTS. And it involves a direct connection with holding a job-engaging inbusiness-earning a living.Satan is clever-cunning-a deceiver.He palms off counterfeits, which looklike the genuine! Naturally he wouldselect the one Commandment of God

which he can counterfeit with a substitute-one in which by human reasonalone no man could see where it wouldmake any difference! He would selectthe one which would seem of least importance to the carnal human mind!He would not try to deceive men onidolatry, profanity, or on stealing, lying,

murder, adultery-tho he has led peopleinto all of these.But WHAT Commandment could Itbe-what commandment affecting a

man's job, or his business?There is ONLY ONE POSSIBLE COM

MANDMENT-the one regarded by thelargest number as the "LEAST" of theCommandments-and t ha t is the four thCommandment, which says: "REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it holy ...The seventh Jay is the Sabbath of theEternal thy God."No carnal mind can see, without thespecial spiritual revelation of God th ruHis word, where it makes any differenceWHICH day man observes.WHERE DID SUNDAY ORIGINATE? No t

Page 13with the Roman Catholic Church, butwith the pagan religion of the ROMANEMPIRE, long before there was anyCatholic Church! It is the day on whichthe ancient pagans assembled at sunrise, faced the east, (as they do EasterSunday morning today) and worshippedthe rising SUN. It was Constantine, Emperor of the Roman EMPIRE, nor a pope,who made SUNDAY the official so-called"Christ ian day of rest." But it was e1Z-forced,-pcoplc were caused to accept ituniversally,-by the Roman CatholicCHURCH!

Why Saints Were Mar ty redIt was for obeying God's FOURTH

Commandment,-keeping the Sabbaththat millions of saints were put to death.The Roman Catholic Council of Laodicea, in 363 A.D., passed this decree:"Chris tians must not judaize by restingon the Sabbath, but must work on thatday, resting rather on Sunday. But, ifany be found to be judaizing, let thembe declared anathema from Christ."The Church caused them to be killed.When the Church branded one "anathema," (a heretic), the S TAT E P OL IC Eof the Empire began torturing him. Unless he recanted, he was tortured unti lhe died!Laws became so str ict no man couldhold a job, or engage in business, unlesshe worked on Saturday and rested onSunday. And the world is now so gearedthat it is almost impossible for one to"buy or sell" except he receive thisMARK of the BEAST!This is the ONLY COMMANDMENTwhich was altered by the ROMAN EM

PIRE! In Daniel- 7: 25 we read theprophecy of this "BEAST" and the littlehorn (papacy) rising up, which was tothink to CHANGE "times and laws." Thatis, change God's LAW in respect toTIME-the t ime for the Sabbath!

What Is a Mark, Anyway?Now what is a "mark?" In Bible usage it is virtually synonymous with a"sign," and in one or two places usedinterchangeably. There is merely this difference: A "mark" is a brand of identification, forced on one. Cattle raisers pu tby force their mark on their cattle-theirbrand. A "sign" is also a badge of IDEN

TITY, but one voluntari ly accepted andused. A dmggist hangs a sign in front ofhis store. It may say, "JONES & CO.DRUGS." It identifies. It tells what kindof store, and who owns it.Now the "Beast," in association withthe Church, used FORCE to brand thewestern world wi th their MARK. Thosewho obeyed God and kept His Sabbathwere martyred. They were unable to "buyor sell." But God does not force anyoneGod says, "Whosoever will may come."


14/16

Page 14God lets us make our own decision aboutobeying Him, accepting Christ, and becoming His obedient children.But is the Sabbath God's SIGN thatwe are Christians, belonging to HIM?

God's SIGNYes, indeed!It was after God had made, and rati

fied, the Covenant with Israel. That oldCovenant, of course, was for limitedduration, is now replaced with the New.But any covenant made after it had beenmade and ratified by blood was no partof that Old Covenant.It was forty days after that ratification,that God made a new, separate, differentCovenant between Himself and all whoshould be HIS PEOPLE, to last forever.Thi s was no temporary covenant, bu tfor all generations, FOREVER.It is found in Exodus 31:12-17:"And the Eternal spake unto Moses,saying, 'Verily MY SABBATHS ye shall

keep; for it is a SIGN be tween me andyou throughout your generations.' "These generations of Israel-WE are Israe l - (see our free booklet , "UnitedStates in Prophecy,") are still going on!Now WHY is it a sign? Does it IDENTIFYGod to us? Does it identify us as HIS?"... that ye may know that I am theETERNAL that doth sanctify you."Get the powerful meaning of thosewords!

It is a SIGN, that we may KNOW thatthe ETERNAL is the true God. It identifies who God is. How? Not ice verse 17 :"I t is a SIGN . . . for in six days theETERNAL made heaven and earth, andon the seventh day He rested, and wasrefreshed." It is the memor ial of God' srest from CREATION. Always, in all partsof the Bible, God identifies Himself asCREATOR. How can we distinguish whois the TRUE God, from all the false gods?The true God created all the false gods,and that from which they are made, andeverything that is. Some worshipped thesun. But The ETERNAL, the true God,created the sun, and rules it. Some worship idols carved out of stone, or wood,or marble. But the true God created thatfrom which they were made, and eventhe human beings who made them. TheSabbath is GOD'S Sabbath, riOt the Jewish Sabbath. Never does the Bible call itthe "Jewish Sabbath." It identifies GODas the CREATOR.

The Sabbath was made FOR MAN. SOsaid Jesus (Mark 2:27 ). It was madeWHEN man was made (Genesis 5:1-3).It was MADE-and it was Christ, TheEternal, who made it! Therefor e HE isLord of the Sabbath! It was made tokeep man in the tr ue knowledge of theIDENTITY of the true God, to keep himfrom idolatry! And history proves thatevery nation who did NOT keep God's

The GOOD NEWSSabbath worshipped false gods, and didnot know who the true God was! WhenIsrael quit keeping God's Sabbath, theywent into idolatry (Ezek. 20:5, 11-13,17-21).IT WAS FOR SABBATH BREAKING GODSENT BOTH ISRAEL AND JUDAH INTOSLAVERY!But back to Ex. 31:17-17. It also isthe SIGN by which we are identified asbelonging to GOD. We BELONG to whomwe obey-so we read in Romans! I t isthe sign by which we know He is TheETERNAL .. . "that doth sanctify YOU."To sanctify is to set apart for spir itualuse. The SABBATH sets one apa rt fromthe world, and always did-as OBEYINGand belonging to GOD. Can you th ink ofANY REASON why anyone would EVERkeep the Sabbath, except to OBEY GOD?Would any man defy human custom andinvite persecution, and be set apar t asdifferent, thru human reason? Could anyatheist be a Sabbath keeper? THE SABBATH IDENTIFIES GOD'S PEOPLE!God's people, we have seen above, areidentified as they who KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. The world acknowledgesall the other nine Commandments. Theonly one the world rejects is the fourth.The only one that sets one apa rt fromthe world-that IDENTIFIES one as belonging to GOD--that is a SIGN of God- i s the SABBATH.Notice, verse 16, it is a "PERPETUALCOVENANT:' It is a COVENANT! I tis no par t of the Old Covenant-no partof the Law of Moses! I t was made withIsrael after all these, and is a separate,and perpetual COVENANT.Notice verse 17: "It is a SIGN betweenme and the chi ldren of Israel FOREVER."There it is! I t is a COVENANT. It is FOR-EVER! .

When given to physical, flesh-bornIsrael, this covenant punished by deathany b reaking of the SIGN. Today, sincethe adminis trat ion of the death penaltyby the Levites and judges is not beingdone (2 Cor. 3:7,8), and since all raceswhether Israeli te or Genti le are graftedinto spiritual Israel (Romans 11:24) ,the willful refusal to keep this sign ispunishable by death-the second death."H e that despised Moses' law diedwithout mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment,suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy,who hath trodden under foot the Son ofGod?" (Heb. 10:28,29.)

Right Hand and in ForeheadGod says the penalty for SIN is

DEATH! Sin is the transgression of theLaw. I f we break only this one Commandment, we are guilty. The penaltyis DEATH!The Roman Church caused people toreceive the ..MARK of pagan ROME-the

October, 1952Sunday observed by the pagan RomanEmpire-and the penal ty for disobedi ence was DEATH. Fifty millions were pu tto death-so says history.

It is the ONLY Commandment theworld will not accept in its MIND (forehead) and OBEY (by work, or rest, withthe HAND). I t is the ONLY commandment that can distinguish between thosewho have the MARK of the BEAST, or theSIGN OF GOD.

Now the Book of Revela tion is wri tten mostly in symbols. The right handsymbolizes work, or labor-the foreheadthe intellect, or mind. It has to do withwhat we BELIEVE, in the mind, andwhether we OBEY, with the hand.HOW ABOUT GOD'S SIGN? It also wasreceived in the forehead, and the hand!Regarding one of God's annual Sabbaths, we read: "... it shall be for a

SIGN unto thee upon thine hand, and fora memoria l between thine eyes (forehead), that the Eternal's LAW may be inthy mouth." (Ex. 13:9.)Deut. 6: 1, 6-8: Now these are theCOMMANDMENTS . . . and these wordswhich I command thee this day, shall bein thine heart, ... and thou shalt bindthem for a SIGN upon thine hand, andthey shall be as frontlets between tbineeyes."Deut. 11: 18: "Therefore shall ye layup these my words in your heart and inyour soul, and bind them for a SIGN uponyour hand, tha t they may be as frontle tsbetween your eyes"Also see Provo 7:2-3, and Rev. 7:3-4;14:1.There is ABSOLUTE PROOF! Yes, theTRUTH is very PLAIN!

The Sabbath is God's

Documents

Good News 1952 (Vol II No 10) Oct_w