EU Considers Work Free Sundays

[John317]

Would an official Sunday "day of rest" alienate believers who observe a different day of worship?

The European Sunday Alliance — a network of 65 civil society organizations, trade unions and Churches— recently made a pitch for “work free Sundays” to the European Union’s Economic and Social Committee in Brussels. The newly formed Alliance argued that a common day of rest would result in healthier families, a more cohesive society, and a more balance lifestyle for everyone. Does this call for an official day of rest marginalize the millions of European Muslims, Jews, and Seventh-day Adventists who observe a day other than Sunday as their day of worship?

Source: http://www.libertymagazine.org/index.php?id=1760

[abelisle]

Does this "work-free Sunday" and "day of rest" imply that Sunday will be a mandated day of worship?

I don't think so - not now anyway but Jewish political and monetary influence at the highest governmental levels will be a major stumbling block.

Alex

[Bravus]

The goal of unions is to stop employers working people 7 days a week: I don't think they're in it to force people to worship.

People would still be free to rest on Saturday as well, though I guess in some cases it might be harder for employees to get the day off work.

This is a proposal brought to the EU by a lobby group, but I'd be amazed if it got very far at all: I think the trend in Europe is very strongly toward secularism, and this would be seen as instituting a religious claim.

[John317]

Yes, all true. But we need to remember Bible prophecy, and also remember that the papacy is pushing the EU to adopt similar legislation concerning Sunday.

Remember, too, that Sunday laws will initially look like a great idea and something that everyone should support. We shouldn't expect that they will at first have anything to do with compelling people to worship. It will look like anyone but enemies of humanity will support them.

[John317]

Does this "work-free Sunday" and "day of rest" imply that Sunday will be a mandated day of worship?

Of course not. And you wouldn't expect it to, would you?

[Tom Wetmore]

Does this "work-free Sunday" and "day of rest" imply that Sunday will be a mandated day of worship?...

No. Nor would it mean a prohibition from worshiping on any other day, nor a mandate that you must work on all of the rest of the days or any one of them in particular.

[lazarus]

I remember a similar drive for this kind of thing in the UK around the early 80's. A lot of SDA's freaked out back then because it was the beginnings of Sunday law, so we thought. Just took a look at their (ESA) website. They've got the right idea just the wrong day.

[John317]

Right. However, the fact that we know what prophecy says about Sunday laws (or do we still?) means we should be aware of what's happening in this regard. It would be foolish not to take notice or to ignore the developments related to Sunday legislation.

What is happening is that the idea of making laws about Sunday is creeping in gradually, which is always the way Satan works. It's a little like getting people to sleep close to a tiger over a period of time so they will relax and take no precautions and find themselves inside the tiger after it's too late.

People eventually can do all sorts of horrible things that they at first never would have thought of doing, but they do them eventaully because they took one little step at a time, and each step didn't look so bad, and they didn't even know where their steps were leading them.

[Tom Wetmore]

I think Satan is less predictable than we think. Think how his minions of our time, terrorists, keep everyone living in fear. Strike when and where we are least expecting it. If the devil knows we are on to him, do you think he is going to do exactly what we expect him to do? I think things will unfold in quite unexpected ways that we will only recognize and understand after the fact. That has always been the pattern of prophecy fulfillment.

[CoAspen]

Amen!

[lazarus]

I'm lining up with Tom here. It's interesting to see the comments on another thread about Mosques. I'm surprised that those who will see Sunday law imposition in connection with the ESA movement do not see it connected with who will want to ban Mosques.

First, they came for the Muslims.......

[abelisle]

. . . then they came for the Adventists . . .

(who ironically were very happy since this persecution was for them a strong indicator that Jesus was about to come

Alex

[Tom Wetmore]

The nature of prophecy is that there is a broad generalization about the events "controlled" by the forces of evil and the infinite variable of human free will. The part that has a certainty, and consequently can be specific, is God's expression of His will and ultimately what He will accomplish.

Imagine history unfolding and God constantly adapting to changes on the ground to stay on target. I am increasingly amazed at the power and inventiveness of God to turn for the good even the most innovative evil and cunningly diabolical twist and turns of Satan and his minions (unseen and seen). The devil doesn't play by God's rules and has but one purpose, to thwart God's plan. But God never falters. He can take whatever the devil throws at him and use it to accomplish His will. The devil will die of frustration.

[John317]

History will repeat itself. In this age the great test will be upon the point of Sabbath observance. . . . A rival sabbath is exalted, as was the great golden image in the plain of Dura. Leaders claiming to be Christians will call upon the world to observe the spurious sabbath that they have made. All who refuse will be put under oppressive laws. This is the mystery of iniquity, the devising of satanic agencies, carried into effect by the man of sin. . . . {CTr 178.5}

What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world, are receiving the worldly mold, and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth,--these are receiving the heavenly mold, and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth, and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity. {CET 191.1}

Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God,--candidates for heaven. Search the Scriptures for yourselves, that you may understand the fearful solemnity of the present hour. {CET 191.2}

[John317]

Mere human opinions are utterly worthless. Like some other things, everyone's got one or two, and most are pretty foolish. Apart from Inspiration, people are terrible at predicting the future. The only thing that matters is what God has revealed. We can depend on it. God isn't guessing. If you think you know better than Him, go for it.

[Tom Wetmore]

Thanks for your opinion...

[Bravus]

Will believe it when I see it.

(waits)

[John317]

Will believe it when I see it.

(waits)

Believe what?

[John317]

Thanks for your opinion...

Are these my opinion:--

Quote:

History will repeat itself. In this age the great test will be upon the point of Sabbath observance. . . . A rival sabbath is exalted, as was the great golden image in the plain of Dura. Leaders claiming to be Christians will call upon the world to observe the spurious sabbath that they have made. All who refuse will be put under oppressive laws. This is the mystery of iniquity, the devising of satanic agencies, carried into effect by the man of sin. . . . {CTr 178.5}

What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world, are receiving the worldly mold, and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth,--these are receiving the heavenly mold, and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth, and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity. {CET 191.1}

Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God,--candidates for heaven. Search the Scriptures for yourselves, that you may understand the fearful solemnity of the present hour. {CET 191.2}

What do those paragraphs say? Do you believe them?

[Bravus]

Will believe in Sunday laws when I see 'em.

[John317]

I'm lining up with Tom here. It's interesting to see the comments on another thread about Mosques.

The comments on the other thread about Mosques and the man who wants to be the Republican Candidate for president has nothing to do with this discussion. In the other discussion, the issue was whether the candidate was correct to speak his mind about American's having a right to keep Mosques from being built in their city.

Here on this discussion, we're talking about the EU deciding whether to pass legislation permitting a work-free Sunday, something that the papacy has been pushing for a long time. As you know, both Bible prophecy and Ellen White's writings reveal that eventually there will be a Sunday law that everyone will be required to obey:

Quote:

The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns shall cause "the earth and them which dwell therein" to worship the papacy --there symbolized by the beast "like unto a leopard." The beast with two horns is also to say "to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast;" and, furthermore, it is to command all, "both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond," to receive the mark of the beast. Revelation 13:11-16. It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns, and that this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgment of her supremacy. But in this homage to the papacy the United States will not be alone. The influence of Rome in the countries that once acknowledged her dominion is still far from being destroyed. And prophecy foretells a restoration of her power. "I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Verse 3. The infliction of the deadly wound points to the downfall of the papacy in 1798. After this, says the prophet, "his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Paul states plainly that the "man of sin" will continue until the second advent. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8. To the very close of time he will carry forward the work of deception. And the revelator declares, also referring to the papacy: "All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life." Revelation 13:8. In both the Old and the New World, the papacy will receive homage in the honor paid to the Sunday institution, that rests solely upon the authority of the Roman Church. {GC 578.3}

[John317]

Will believe in Sunday laws when I see 'em.

Bravus, if you won't believe it until they happen, you will be too late. That would like waiting until Christ comes to believe He's coming. It will be too late to prepare.

Are you saying you don't believe Bible prophecy and the Spirit of prophecy? But do you have a firm belief in predictive prophecy?

[John317]

These quotes explain some of the reason that it's important to begin preparation now for Christ's return and for the events that will take place before the second coming:

Quote:

What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world, are receiving the worldly mold, and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth,--these are receiving the heavenly mold, and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth, and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity. {CET 191.1}

Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God,--candidates for heaven. Search the Scriptures for yourselves, that you may understand the fearful solemnity of the present hour. {CET 191.2}

Do you believe those paragraphs?

[Bravus]

Ellen White's 'prophecies' about the Sunday Law draw on the narrow set of beliefs and experiences of the mid-to-late 19th century. They do not really take into account the whole world. The chances of a world givernment and a world Sunday Law have been steadily receding since she wrote. It's *possible* that conditions could turn around, but China, India and the Muslim world would all need to be forcibly suppressed.

What's that text about 'if what a prophet predicts doesn't come true, that person was not a true prophet'?

Sunday Law predictions are, at this point, a part of the 'anti-reality culture' I've talked about elsewhere.

[John317]

In other words, you are saying Ellen White can't be trusted and wrote false prophecies.