GOD'S SABBATH AND THE ROMAN EMPIRE (CONSTANTINE)

As the great counterfeiter, Satan has presented many false forms of virtually every aspect of God’s truth. He has not only counterfeited God’s true Church, but also the very sign that identifies those who know and obey God—the Sabbath day.

Satan has succeeded in deceiving professing Christianity into accepting Sunday and rejecting the Sabbath. In Genesis chapter 1, when God originally defined the seven-day week, He simply numbered each day. They were called “the first day,” “the second day,” etc. All the days of the week were identified merely by numbers, except the seventh day. Concerning the seventh day, we read, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made” (Gen. 2:2-3). In Exodus 20:10, as God proclaimed the Ten Commandments, He affirmed, “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God…” Thus, we see that God gave the seventh day special honor and a unique title, unlike the other days. (Today, they all carry pagan names—Sunday [Sun’s day], Monday [Moon’s day], Tuesday [Tiw’s day], and so forth.)

Why did the first day come to be so prominent?

The First Day of the Week—Satan’s Counterfeit of the Sabbath

Before examining the Scriptures for any evidence of Sunday observance, we need to cover some vital historical background of this subject. The earliest recorded account of a leader rising up and promoting religion in opposition to God’s teachings was Nimrod. Nimrod was high priest of the sun and his mother-wife, Semiramis, was priestess. Much of the religion of the Babylonian Mysteries originated with Nimrod and Semiramis, who reigned over the people of Babel about two centuries after the Flood.

Nimrod branded the practice of fearing and obeying God as cowardice (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Bk. I, ch. IV). He put himself in the place of God. (See Genesis 10:9, where “before” should be translated “against.”) When Nimrod died, his subjects worshiped him as a deity—the personification of the sun god (Satan). He had been known by the name “Baal,” which means “master” or “lord,” as he attempted to exalt himself above the true Lord and Master of the universe. Yet, Nimrod had been known by a number of other names. In Babylon, he was known as “Tammuz.” In Syria, he was known as “Adonis,” meaning “lord.” In Egypt, he was known as the god “Osiris,” and Semiramis was known as the goddess “Isis.”

The Babylonian Mysteries remained intact for millennia after Nimrod’s death. When the northern kingdom of Israel was taken into captivity, their captors, the Assyrians, placed peoples from Babylon (still adhering to the Babylonian Mysteries religion) into the land where Israel had formerly dwelled. These were the Samaritans mentioned in the New Testament as being perpetually at odds with the Jews. Simon Magus was the high priest of the Samaritan religion. He opposed the true religion taught by the apostles and set out to spread his own counterfeit gospel. Another Samaritan who became prominent in the early formation of the great false church headquartered at Rome was Justin Martyr.

Justin Martyr openly opposed the Sabbath, labeling Sabbath keepers as “Judaizers.” True to his background as a Samaritan and worshipper of Nimrod as “lord” of the sun, he advocated the keeping of Sunday about two centuries before it was mandated for all the Roman Empire by Constantine. The origin of Sunday being termed as the “Lord’s day” had long predated the first century and the time of Christ’s mission on earth.

Now to quote excerpts from the article “Sunday” from Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., 1911, Volume 26, p. 94: “Sunday, or the Lord’s Day, in the Christian world, the first day of the week, celebrated in memory of the resurrection of Christ, as the principle day for public worship.” The article continues, “An additional reason for the sanctity of the day may have been found in its association with Pentecost…” It is true that the Feast of Pentecost is always observed on a Sunday as the writers of this article acknowledged, yet this backup statement was mere conjecture. We will shortly address the error of associating Sunday with the Resurrection of Christ.

The honesty of these scholars contributing to the aforementioned article is quite commendable as they do frankly admit, “There is no evidence that in the earliest years of Christianity [the apostolic era of the first century] there was any formal observance of Sunday as a day of rest or any general cessation of work” (Ibid.). Of course, during that time, the true Church faithfully observed the seventh-day Sabbath!

Continuing in the article, we read, “The first writer who mentions the name of Sunday as applicable to the Lord’s day is Justin Martyr; this designation of the first day of the week, which is of heathen origin, had come into general use in the Roman world shortly before Justin wrote.” Pagan sun worship was already prevalent in the Roman Empire even before the first century. By the time of Constantine in the fourth century, the pagan observance of Sunday was given the ultimate status as Emperor Constantine imposed his edict of A.D. 321. His famous decree began, “On the venerable Day of the Sun let all magistrates and people…rest” (Shaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, article “Sunday Legislation”).

The Roman Catholic Church was greatly empowered by this move. Having such contributors as Simon Magus and Justin Martyr in establishing their foundations, the Catholics shared Constantine’s aversion to the Sabbath. Although Justin was a critic of Simon, they both advocated the precepts of the Babylonian Mysteries and mutually opposed the keeping of the Sabbath in favor of Sunday observance. It should be noted that about this time, the planetary names had been given to the days of the week: “The use of planetary names [Monday, Tuesday, etc.] attests to the growing influence of astrological speculations introduced by the converts from paganism” (Webster’s Rest Days, p. 252).

With Sunday observance now mandated, Sabbath observance became illegal. And by A.D. 325, it became punishable by confiscation of property and death.

The phrase “the first day of the week” appears in eight different verses in the New Testament. Six of these eight verses pertain to the time associated with Christ’s resurrection. We will examine them below. Since this is the primary basis used to justify Sunday observance, it must be addressed first and foremost. Keep in mind that even if Christ had been resurrected on the first day of the week—which we will show that He was not—there exists no scriptural basis for changing the Sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first day.

(1) In order to understand how the days are reckoned, we must understand when each new day begins, according to Scripture. Does a day begin at sunrise, midnight or sunset? Genesis 1:5; Exodus 12:6.

Comment: “The evening and the morning” comprised the first day, as well as the remaining days of the Creation Week (Gen. 1:8, 13, 19, 23, 31). The terms were written in this order because each day began at evening about the time of sunset. This is how God reckoned each day.

Exodus 12:6 pertains to instructions as to when to kill the Passover lamb. The term used at the end of verse 6, “in the evening,” should be properly rendered “between the two evenings.” The Jewish Encyclopedia defines this time as the twilight period between the time the sun goes down when the new day commences and the darkness when the stars come out. Although Passover was observed on the 14th of the month of Abib (Nisan), it actually began on the prior evening as the 13th ended at the time of sunset.

The precise beginning of each day is crucial in determining time periods in Scripture, as we shall see. It is vital in helping one discern the meaning of such scriptures as Luke 23:54, which states, “And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.” This defines a time just before sunset on a day preceding a Sabbath. Yet, it would be meaningless to someone not familiar with how time was properly reckoned.

(2) Was Christ’s tomb found to be empty on a Sunday morning? Matthew 28:1, 5-6.

Comment: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary would not have attempted to anoint the body of Christ with spices on the Sabbath day. Rather, they rested on the Sabbath and came to the tomb after the time of rest, as stated in Luke 23:56: “And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” After a description of the events that had previously occurred (Matt. 28:2-4), verses 5 to 6 describe an angel telling the women that Christ was already risen.

(3) What does Mark 16:2, 9 show about the timing of Christ’s Resurrection? Mark 16:1-2, 9.

Comment: This account shows the women coming to the tomb in the early morning of the first day of the week, finding that Christ had already risen. Verse 9, in particular, is used to “prove” the false tradition that Christ’s Resurrection occurred on Sunday. Note the wording: “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene…”

The original Greek text had no punctuation. Translators of this text could unwittingly change the meaning by the addition or omission of commas, as happened here. Both the Montgomery Translation and the Expositors Greek Testament have this verse translated as follows: “Now when Jesus was risen, early the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene…” This is in perfect harmony with the other scriptures defining Christ’s Resurrection.

(4) Does Luke 24:1 add to our understanding of the sequence of events? Luke 23:56; 24:1.

Comment: Only after having rested on the Sabbath day were the women ready to take their spices, which they had prepared prior to the weekly Sabbath. This account also shows that they arrived at the tomb early on the first day of the week.

(5) What information does John 20:1 provide about when the women arrived at the tomb? John 20:1.

Comment: The women arrived at the tomb or sepulcher “when it was yet dark” to find the stone had been removed. This shows that Christ had been resurrected well before sunrise. This information discredits the sunrise resurrection tradition.

Yet, further investigation into the origin of sunrise services is quite revealing. Ezekiel 8:14-16 shows women weeping for Tammuz (another name for Nimrod, their sun god) and the people facing the east as they worshipped the sun. This prophetic vision in Ezekiel applies directly to our time, as well as ancient Israel. People today blindly carry on traditions such as sunrise services, thinking they are honoring Christ, while following rituals from the ancient Babylonian Mysteries. God calls these practices abominations (Ezek. 8:13).

(6) Finally, does John 20:19 justify Sunday observance as some falsely claim? John 20:19.

Comment: The timing of this verse is clearly Sunday evening, because Mary Magdalene had just reported to the disciples that she had seen the resurrected Christ (vs.18). It also shows that the disciples were assembled. But it does not say they were assembled for a church service. Rather, we read that they were assembled for fear of the Jews—actually hiding from the Jews.
 
A Summarized Sequence of Events

After having addressed all six specific scriptures that reference “the first day of the week” associated with the time of the Resurrection of Christ, we now present the overall timeline from Passover Day of A.D. 31, which occurred on the 4th day of the week, or Wednesday. The following 3-day-and-3-night span of 72 hours included a high Sabbath on Thursday (the First Day of Unleavened Bread) and the 7th day weekly Sabbath, which completed the span. Be sure to write out these timeline points along with the associated scriptures:

Christ shared the Passover meal with His disciples on the evening before His crucifixion (Luke 22:15).

He was crucified on Passover Day (Nisan 14), about the 3rd hour (Mark 15:25).

Darkness prevailed from the 6th hour until the 9th hour, at which time Christ died (Matt. 27:45-50).

He was placed in His tomb late on Passover day (Matt. 27:57-60; Luke 23:53-54).

He was to be 3 days and 3 nights (entombed) in the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:39-40).

Passover day was followed by a “high day” or annual Sabbath (John 19:31).

After the high day, the women prepared spices for Christ’s burial (Luke 23:54-56 (first part)).

After a day of preparing spices, they rested on the weekly Sabbath (Luke 23:56 (last part)).

The next day—the 1st day of the week—they found that Christ had already risen (Matt. 28:6).

This weekly Sabbath occurring within the days of Unleavened Bread was when Christ was resurrected according to His own words. He indicated that no sign would be given except for the sign of the prophet Jonah—that he would be entombed for 3 days and 3 nights just as Jonah was in the great fish or whale (Matt. 12:39-40).

Three days and three nights from late Passover Day on Wednesday brings us to late in the weekly Sabbath. Christ would have been resurrected according to the only sign He had promised to give to prove He was the Messiah. Do you believe Him?

Other Attempts to Justify Sunday Observance

(1) Did the disciples come together on the first day of the week to break bread and to hear preaching? Acts 20:7.

Comment: On this particular occasion, Paul had conducted Sabbath services earlier on the Sabbath and continued to instruct and exhort the brethren because he was to depart on his journey the very next day—the daylight portion of Sunday. So after having met on the Sabbath, Paul continued preaching for many hours continuing into “Saturday evening” (which was the beginning of the first day of the week) and on through midnight. After having miraculously revived a youth, taken up as dead, who had fallen from the loft, as Paul was “long preaching” (vs. 9-10), he actually continued encouraging the brethren until daybreak (vs. 11). He was scheduled to depart and not likely to ever see them again.

There is no indication in this verse that meeting together on the first day of the week had become the custom in the apostolic era. Rather, many dozens of statements from history of the brethren meeting on the Sabbath have been ignored by theologians down through history, yet they are diligent to search for possible loopholes around keeping God’s Sabbath.

It seems the populace wants the best of all worlds. Someone who can do it all—keep the eurozone together, protect their shorter work weeks, ensure early retirement ages and provide the high standard of living those in the European Union have come to expect. Someone who can secure their social programs and pensions. They want someone who can step in and take charge.

To accomplish this, one leader would have to quickly seize sweeping amounts of centralized power. He would have to control the social, political and military powers of Europe. He would have to unite the continent in a way not seen since the EU’s inception.

Does this sound unbelievable? It should not. This is what Europe has always done. Throughout the centuries, the continent has surrendered its power to one man—one who can ensure they continue to live comfortably.

One of the first times Europe relied on a dynamic figure to protect their lifestyles was during the Roman Empire. Constantine united the people under one religion and ruled as an unchallenged emperor. By AD 321, Constantine established Sunday as part of the official state religion, thus legitimizing the various traditions attached to that day.

Under his watch, the empire enjoyed continual wealth and abundance. Edward Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire  describes the empire at that time, when the capital of Constantinople “enjoyed, within their spacious enclosure, every production which could supply the wants or gratify the luxury of its numerous inhabitants. The sea-coasts of Thrace and Bithynia…still exhibit a rich prospect of vineyards, of gardens, and of plentiful harvests; and the Propontis has ever been renowned for an inexhaustible store of the most exquisite fish, that are taken in their stated seasons, without skill, and almost without labor.”

In short, with Constantine, the people had anything they wanted to gratify their desires.

But since then this has happened time and again. Europe emerged from a “transition” period under the Germanic tribes of the Vandals, Heruli and Ostrogoths as a disunited kingdom.

In AD 554, Justinian routed the Ostrogoths and reconstituted the empire as the Holy Roman Empire—nearly restoring the size and grandeur of its land holdings to that of the original empire.

The examples do not end there. While some historians paint the life of the common person as harsh under Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, others record that he used his expansive power for “increased royal concern for the helpless, continued efforts to strengthen royal administration, active diplomacy, the maintenance of religious reform, and support of cultural renewal” (Encyclopaedia Britannica). In the end, because his thinking on a politically unified continent has influenced European ambitions for centuries, Charlemagne has come to be known as the “Father of Europe.”

Otto the Great came next, crowned emperor in AD 962. His cultural reforms and use of the Roman Church to achieve peace made a secure empire.


He was followed by the Hapsburg dynasty of Charles V in AD 1520, and Napoleon’s reign, which began with his crowning in 1805. Both times, Europe again had emperors.

The most recent resurgence of the Holy Roman Empire began when Giuseppe Garibaldi united Italy in 1870, which culminated in the defeat of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in 1945.

In every case, one man took the reins of the continent, often backed by the Roman Catholic Church. For varying reasons, that one man took power and unified Europe—sometimes to horrific ends, as with Hitler and Mussolini.

Yet the pattern is undeniable. Time and again, Europe united under one man. Often, the man was a dictator, such as Napoleon, but the continent always turned to these men, who secured freedoms and brought stability to European life.
History Written in Advance

The word “empire” brings unease to many in the EU—with images of Hitler’s Third Reich still ingrained in the public mind. And most in Europe have little interest in sweeping socio-political-religious unity. They are, after all, a group of many different peoples, with different languages and traditions. They have also become accustomed to great freedoms.

Be careful, however, of dismissing this “emperor” scenario as an impossibility today. History repeats itself, especially if those involved believe such things can never happen again.

Most Europeans are not prepared—and do not want—to live with less. As we have already seen, they will do whatever  it takes to maintain their standard of living. One only has to look to the riots in response to proposed budget cuts that threaten the programs they have come to view as “rights.”

They want what Constantine gave to Europe—a government that can “supply the wants or gratify the luxury of its numerous inhabitants” with “rich prospect of vineyards, of gardens, and of plentiful harvests.” They want lives of comfort and normalcy.

The annals of history show where Europe is headed. Yet the Holy Roman Empire came much later than other great, unifying powers. Conditions in these ancient kingdoms mirror the lifestyles desired in Europe today.

Perhaps the first notable example is Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar II, known for his military might and the splendor of his capital, Babylon—which was home to the fabled hanging gardens, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

This is the same King Nebuchadnezzar of the biblical book of Daniel. In the account, the king dreamed of a statue: “This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay” (Dan. 2:32-33).

This ambiguous dream made the king furious, and he was prepared to kill every wise man in the kingdom until he had an answer (Dan. 2:12). Yet this vision, and its interpretation by Daniel, is more important than you might know! It offers absolute proof of where to look to understand Europe’s future.

Place your Bible next to the record of history. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream accurately foretold a number of successive empires. Read Daniel 2:37: “You, O king [Nebuchadnezzar], are a king of kings: for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.” Verse 38 adds, “You are this head of gold.”

The Bible has just interpreted itself. Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon represent the first kingdom.

Verses 39-40 go on to describe three successive kingdoms that would follow Babylon. Here is how they are described: “And after you [Nebuchadnezzar] shall arise another kingdom [of silver] inferior to you, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron.”

Each part represents, and foretold of, a major empire. Again, the first, which was the head of gold, was Nebuchadnezzar’s own Babylonian or Chaldean Empire (625-539 BC). The silver chest and arms represent the second kingdom, the Medo-Persian Empire (558-330 BC). The belly and thighs of brass represent the third, the Grecian or Greco-Macedonian Empire (333-31 BC), ruled by Alexander the Great.

Finally, the fourth kingdom, depicted by the lower legs of iron, with feet and toes of iron mixed with clay, is the Roman Empire, with its succession of historic resurrections. These were the empires detailed above—from Justinian all the way to Mussolini.

Realize what you just read! Each of these empires were foretold centuries in advance of their arrival on the world scene. This makes the account in Daniel history written in advance, or Bible prophecy. These verses are one of the many proofs that validate the truth and accuracy of God’s Word.

The validity of the Bible is essential to understanding the exact future of Europe today.
 
Lives of Luxury

While each of the successive resurrections of the Holy Roman Empire hearkens back to the original empire, the Holy Roman Empire is also likened to Babylon in the Bible. This clue reveals what is to come for Europe.

Revelation 18:16 describes a “great city”—revealed to be Babylon in verse 2—“that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!”

When Europe unites under one political authority once again, the result will be economic security and lives of comfort and abundance.

Note how Europe is described in the rest of chapter 18:

    * Verse 3: “the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies”—the entire world will benefit from this economic powerhouse.
    * Verses 12-13: “The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots…”
    * Verse 19: “that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness!”

These verses could easily describe the times of Nebuchadnezzar and Constantine—but this is Europe’s future! Under the coming ruler, Europeans will live “deliciously” (vs. 7), which is better translated “luxuriously.”

Details in Revelation 18 reveal why Europe will give power to one man: he will bring material riches. The coming resurrection of the Roman Empire will bring peace, stability—luxury! The masses will be on board with this new socio-political-military system. In fact, conditions in Europe will be better than at any point in its history.

Yet there is a problem.

This way of life comes with a cost. Think back to Constantine, when he abolished the Sabbath in favor of Sunday. Europe has followed suit ever since.

Living deliciously could be summed up another way—living covetously. Just look at the fruits of the lives of many in modern Europe: teenagers riot because they do not want to work past age 55—loose sex leads to unwanted pregnancies, and often abortions—sexual perversions—and out of control drug use.

God sums this up in Revelation 18:5: “For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” As a result, “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her” (Rev. 18:8).

Despite the best efforts, Europe—and any man chosen to rule over it—will fail to bring the lasting peace and abundant living so many desire. When Europe crumbles, everyone will bemoan its destruction. Why? Not because the system has crumbled, but because they are no longer able to pursue unbridled lives of luxury.

“[The people] cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate” (Rev. 18:18-19).

“And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters [referencing the fine arts of Europe] shall be heard no more at all in you; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found anymore in you; and the sound of a millstone will be heard no more at all in you; and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you: for your merchants were the great men of the earth” (vs. 22-23).

However, God is merciful and the punishment will not continue without end: “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence will that great city Babylon be thrown down, and will be found no more at all” (vs. 21).

This signals the end of the Roman/Babylonish system.
 

True Abundance

Who, then, can Europeans rely on to bring true and lasting safety and abundance?

Return once again to the statue of Daniel 2. After Daniel describes the image of gold, silver, brass and iron, with feet of iron mixed with clay, he mentions “a stone was cut out without hands.”

This stone came down and “smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces” (Dan. 2:34).

Here is the ultimate end of these systems—and the lifestyles they brought: “Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (vs. 35).

The demise of these systems will usher in another, very different kingdom—the kingdom of God!

Led by Jesus Christ—who is the “stone cut out of the mountain without hands”—this kingdom will bring true and everlasting peace and prosperity to the entire world. Notice what Christ said during His earthly ministry—and what He will one day tell the whole world: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

God wants everyone to live rich, full, abundant lives. He wants all peoples to enjoy His blessings. Savor this next wonderful verse: “And in this mountain [God’s government] shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined” (Isa. 25:6).

But God also wants mankind to enjoy the results of living under His Law: abundance, peace and prosperity.

The coming kingdom will bring a new world economic system based on sound financial policies. There will be no more profiteering from risky investments. No longer will financial institutions, insurance companies and loan agencies exist as we know them, nor will banks take advantage of customers.

Individuals will learn not to overspend. People will be guided to follow sound financial practices and to not buy more than they can afford. There will be no flashy advertisements inducing lust to “buy now,” in order to achieve instant gratification, encouraged by all of today’s media. Rather, the established way will emphasize a strong work ethic, obedience to God’s laws, and the way of give and outgoing concern toward others.
Before the Good News

As the world learns not to covet, people will also learn that the goal of being rich is destructive (I Tim. 6:9-10). They will learn that giving to others always returns even greater blessings to the giver (Luke 6:38). Lust-driven consumerism will also disappear, along with overwhelming consumer debt and resulting bankruptcy. Without lust, materialism and impulse buying will vanish.

Under the government of God, man will experience prosperity and happiness. Yet, this will not happen immediately. Before Europe can experience this true abundance, it must realize once and for all that its own solutions and governmental systems do not work! After a time of fleeting prosperity, the continent will plunge into the time of great difficulty described in Revelation 18.

Yet whenever God warns of impending punishment, He also offers a way to escape. But this escape means you must take action! Notice what God commands in Revelation 18 verse 4: “Come out of her, My people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.”

God says that, to escape, one must come out. But in order to leave something, you must first know what it is.

Constantine convened the ecumenical council of Nicea in 325 to resolve the doctrinal differences between various Christian divisions. Before this, Constantine had already decreed that the day of the sun would be kept throughout the empire. This “day of the sun” was pivotal in unifying pagan sun-worshipers with nominal “Christians.”

These “Christians” had already accepted Sunday and had never observed God’s seventh-day Sabbath to begin with—except for apostates who had joined them. This was a marriage of convenience between Constantine and the church at Rome. The council of Nicea condemned the practice of true Christianity. All of the precepts of the emerging church at Rome were now decreed as part of the new state religion. As its protector, Constantine forced everyone, pagan or Christian, into either conformity or exile.

With the enforcement of a false religion upon them, the true Church had no choice but to flee. This flight was prophesied in Revelation 12:6: “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” From 325, the Church would be in the wilderness for the next 1,260 years.

The Counterfeit Church in Perspective

Before the time of Constantine, the largest professing church—founded by Simon Magus—suffered persecution by the state, much as the true Church of God had. But now in their elevated position of power, the “persecuted” became the “persecutors.” This counterfeit religion’s goal had now been achieved, and the true Church was sought out in a more vengeful and merciless way than before. History reveals that this church has been the chief cause of war within its jurisdiction, either directly or indirectly. As the author of crusades, inquisitions and every other insidious form of destruction, the counterfeit movement has amounted to the world’s most dreadful killing machine. Tens of millions have died due to the decree of the church at Rome in its quest for power and dominance. The true Church may have been its main target, but it constituted only a fraction of its victims.

Christ’s admonition in Matthew 24:9 warned of such persecution: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you.” Daniel 7 gives a prophetic picture of one of the horns (the false church) of the fourth beast (the Roman Empire). Verse 8 reads, “I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”

Continuing in verses 20-21: “And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them.”

Finally, verses 24-25 read, “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” (The 3½ times equals 1,260 years in Revelation 12:6. In Revelation 12:14, 3½ times equals 1,260 days.)

This system “made war with the saints,” “prevailed against them,” “spoke great words against the Most High,” and was to “wear out the saints of the Most High.” This “little horn” is precisely the same counterfeit movement whose rise to power we have just summarized from Church history. After must studying lead by God's Spirit of course, it will become evident how deadly this “little horn speaking great things” would become in regard to the true Church—and to all civilization.