We wish to contribute to the discussion about the gradual eroding of our personal rights and freedom to act according to our conscience. Seventh-day Adventists have long believed that the United States will enact laws requiring the observance of Sunday as a day of worship.
Many Adventists consider the Sunday law as the key event that shows we are entering the beginning of the end. The "sign of the times" most significant to students of prophecy is efforts to enact Sunday legislation in the United States.
“When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, OUR COUNTRY SHALL REPUDIATE EVERY PRINCIPLE OF ITS CONSTITUTION as a Protestant and republican government and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near." -- Testimonies Volume 5, page 451 ( written in 1885 ) also Maranatha, page 193 |
Speech by John F. Kennedy to Greater Houston Ministerial Association - Sept. 12, 1960
The North America Religious Liberty Association (NARLA) and Liberty Magazine are sources of information that will help you track these events. The North American Division promotes an awareness of religious liberty issues in January and February of each year and the local churches participate in the campaign by delivering at least one sermon.
The 2011 campaign was launched with a message written by Charles D. Brooks - Read this message
The 2010 campaign was launched with a message written by Dr. Bruce N. Cameron - here is the text of this message.
Video: Perspective on Religious Liberty by Ed Reid ( 74 minutes )
New section: selected quotations about Religious Liberty from the writings of Ellen White
Words and Phrases related to Religious Liberty -- Duplicate page with improvements
Spirit of Prophecy articles:
The Impending Conflict - Testimonies, Volume 5, Chapter 86
Quotes about Religious Liberty: 18MR, 223-225
Religious Liberty Quotation of the Month “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” - George Orwell
Threats to our religious freedom can come from different directions and in different ways but God has designed the unfolding of last day events . . .
| "We may have to plead most earnestly before legislative councils for the right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience. Thus in his providence God has designed that the claims of His law shall be brought before men in positions of highest authority . . ." Review & Herald, Feb. 11, 1904
|
First Sunday Law proposed to US Senate - May 21, 1888
A.T. Jones appears before US Congress - Dec. 13, 1888 ( transcript ) -- Audio presentation of transcript
Lessons from the Sunday Law Crisis of late 1880's and 1890's
Countdown to the National Sunday Law
There are several websites for religious freedom and here are a few
recent events
Freedom of Speech under Attack - July 23, 2021
Walter Veith discusses the new Religious Freedom Alliance - - March 11, 2020 - - ( 34 minute video )
Trump's Executive Order promoting Free Speech
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/05/04/presidential-executive-order-promoting-free-speech-and-religious-liberty
Religious Liberty Rally in NYC - Aug. 26-27, 2016
Here is a video recording of the Rally on Aug. 27th at Goshen Temple, it is 1 hours 55 minutes.
Many church leaders were present and presenters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EftW4vG7Wl4
The Religious Liberty Summit in June 2013 Several videos from the Summit - http://www.youtube.com/user/NARLAvideo
NARLA Convention held in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2012
Videos of the presentation by David Asscherick, "The Coming Storm" - Here are the LINKs
Part 1 - is about the time of the early church founded by Jesus until 1844 this sets the table,
http://www.3angelstube.com/video/3527/the-coming-storm-david-asscherick-part-1
and part 2 is the meat of this "awakening call to the people of prophecy"
http://www.3angelstube.com/video/3528/the-coming-storm-david-asscherick-part-2
Audio file of this message http://www.inverity.org/sermon/part-2-one-interest/ ( 72 minutes )
Sunday Blue Laws - this page lists Sunday Laws on the books or under consideration by a state legislature.
The situation in Europe is different than in the United States, for example, in Europe the leaders are concerned about the influx of immigrants from muslim countries and that the number of Islamic people in their country is increasing to a point that alarms them. A backlash is developing in some European countries where people support Christian institutions like Sunday observance laws. This is something to watch carefully.
Watch List: Organizations that promote Sunday sacredness
Christian Coalition, founded by Pat Robertson in 1989 www.cc.org
Lord's Day Alliance - www.LDAUSA.org
