“Christians of past generations observed the Sunday, supposing that in so doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath: and there are now true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic Communion, who honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment. God accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before Him.
---But when Sunday observance shall he enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome, and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshiping the beast and his image.’”— “No one has yet received the mark of the beast. The testing time has not yet come. There are true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion. None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit Sabbath, and the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast.” — Evangelism, pp. 234-35. The Great Controversy, p. 449.
Paul said to the ancient, idolatrous Athenians, “The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent.” Acts 17:30. It is not what we do ignorantly that brings God's condemnation, but what we do willfully after we have a clear knowledge of the truth. “Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17."
Paul said to the ancient, idolatrous Athenians, “The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent.” Acts 17:30. It is not what we do ignorantly that brings God's condemnation, but what we do willfully after we have a clear knowledge of the truth. “Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17."
F.D. Nichols
