Ellen White’s Sunday Mark of the Beast Theory
Part 1: THE ADVENTIST POSITION ON THE MARK OF THE BEAST FROM 1850 – 1899
Part 2: THE ADVENTIST POSITION ON THE MARK OF THE BEAST FROM 1900 – 1915
Part 3: THE ADVENTIST POSITION ON THE MARK OF THE BEAST FROM 1915 – TODAY
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THE ADVENTIST POSITION ON ‘THE MARK OF THE BEAST’ FROM 1850 – 1899
- WORSHIPING JESUS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK OFFENDS GOD!
- ASSEMBLING WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK OFFENDS GOD!
- CEASING FROM WORK ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK OFFENDS GOD!
Ellen White Review and Herald, July 13, 1897 wrote: “WHEN YOU OBEY THE DECREE THAT COMMANDS YOU TO CEASE FROM LABOR ON SUNDAY AND WORSHIP GOD, . . . YOU CONSENT TO RECEIVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST.
From the founding of the movement until 1903 Adventist believed and taught that the Mark of the Beast was SUNDAY observance which entailed both cessation of work and worship of God on Sunday. In other words if you want to avoid the Mark of the Beast you must WORK on Sunday and not rest on that day.
J. N. Andrews – Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald November 7, 1854 wrote: “In this note we call attention to the fact that this commandment is the only precept in the Bible which tells us how to keep the first day of the week. That precept says: “Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.” Whoever obeys the only precept for Sunday-keeping in the Bible, will commence labor on the first day of the week, just as God did, and when the Rest-day of the Lord arrives, they will cease from labor, and observe it according to the commandment. Whoever wishes to obey God in the observance of Sunday, can here find his will plainly expressed.”
E. J. Waggoner – Signs of the Times April 8, 1889. wrote: “If Sunday observance is enforced by law, it will result in the oppression of Jews, Sabbatarian Christians, and others WHO DEEM IT NECESSARY TO LABOR ON THAT DAY.”
A. T. Jones – The American Sentinel Articles February 19, 1891. wrote: “By this it is evident that were his will in Sunday-law matters performed, he would compel those people “to loaf” every Sunday, AND THEREBY PROHIBIT THEIR OBEYING THE COMMANDMENT, “SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOR.”
E. J. Waggoner – Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald April 16, 1895 wrote: “IT IS VERY CLEAR, THEREFORE, THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT, WE MUST NOT ONLY REST ON THE SEVENTH DAY, BUT WE MUST ALSO HABITUALLY TREAT ALL OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK AS LABORING DAYS. This would be true in any case; but when there is a day, as the first day, which is put forth as a rival to the Sabbath of the Lord, and which claims to be the Sabbath in its stead, the duty of emphasizing the difference becomes more urgent. We are by the commandment bound not only to show that the seventh day is the Sabbath, but also that the first day of the week is not the Sabbath.” “In a word, then, THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT IS OUR SOLE SUFFICIENT WARRANT FOR WORKING ON SUNDAY WHEN THE LAWS OF MEN REQUIRE US TO CEASE FROM LABOR ON THAT DAY.”
Using just these quotes which were all released from Adventist Printing Houses by prominent Adventist spokesmen, we know that Ellen White had no less than 41 years to rebuke this teaching. Did she do this? No! In fact after all these statements were released Ellen White released one that said the exact same thing.
Ellen White Review and Herald, July 13, 1897 wrote: “WHEN YOU OBEY THE DECREE THAT COMMANDS YOU TO CEASE FROM LABOR ON SUNDAY AND WORSHIP GOD, . . . YOU CONSENT TO RECEIVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST.
Ceasing from work and worshiping God on Sunday after the Sunday law was enacted WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM, and WAS THE MARK OF THE BEAST according to Adventist thinking during the entire 19th century according to the Adventist Pioneers and by Ellen White herself.
Just so we are clear about Ellen White’s interpretation we need to look at some other things that were written during this period of Adventist history.
Uriah Smith, The Marvel of Nations, pp. 170, 183. wrote: “Sunday-keeping must be the mark of the beast.” … “The reception of his mark must be something that involves the greatest offense that can be committed against God.”
Advent Review, Vol. I, No. 2, August, 1850 . wrote: “The Sunday Sabbath is purely a child of the Papacy. It is the mark of the beast.“
Ellen White, Great Controversy, p. 281. wrote: “The change of the Sabbath is the sign or mark of the authority of the Romish church.” … “The keeping of the counterfeit Sabbath is the reception of the mark.”
Ellen White, Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 117. wrote: “The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of creation. . . . The mark of the beast is the opposite of this–the observance of the first day of the week.”
Ellen White, Evangelism, p. 234. wrote: “The mark of the beast is the papal sabbath.”
Ellen White, Letter 31, 1898. wrote: “What Is the Mark of the Beast?–John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast and his image by keeping the first day of the week. The observance of this day is the mark of the beast.”
Ellen White, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 980. wrote: “When the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the mark of the beast is. It is the keeping of Sunday.”
In the year 2000, I made three of these protest signs for $250
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THE ADVENTIST POSITION ON ‘THE MARK OF THE BEAST’ FROM 1900-1915
“And NEVER MUST WE SAY TO THEM, “YOU MUST WORK ON SUNDAY.” . . . . Give Sunday to the Lord as a day for doing missionary work. Take the students out to HOLD MEETINGS IN DIFFERENT PLACES, and to do medical missionary work. . . . . This way of spending Sunday is always acceptable to the Lord.” – The General Conference Bulletin April 14, 1903.
One does not receive the mark of the beast because he shows that he realizes the wisdom of keeping the peace by refraining from work that gives offense. . . . Sunday can be used for carrying forward various lines of work that will accomplish much for the Lord. On this day open-air meetings and cottage meetings can be held. House-to-house work can be done. Those who write can devote this day to writing their articles. Whenever it is possible, let religious services be held on Sunday. Make these meetings intensely interesting. Sing genuine revival hymns, and speak with power and assurance of the Saviour’s love.– Testimonies to the Church volume 9 p. 232, 233.
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WHAT A CONTRAST COMPARED TO WHAT SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST TAUGHT ABOUT THE MARK OF THE BEAST FROM 1850-1899!
Ellen White Review and Herald, July 13, 1897 wrote: “WHEN YOU OBEY THE DECREE THAT COMMANDS YOU TO CEASE FROM LABOR ON SUNDAY AND WORSHIP GOD, . . . YOU CONSENT TO RECEIVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST.
E. J. Waggoner – Signs of the Times April 8, 1889. wrote: “If Sunday observance is enforced by law, it will result in the oppression of Jews, Sabbatarian Christians, and others WHO DEEM IT NECESSARY TO LABOR ON THAT DAY.”
A. T. Jones – The American Sentinel Articles February 19, 1891. wrote: “By this it is evident that were his will in Sunday-law matters performed, he would compel those people “to loaf” every Sunday, AND THEREBY PROHIBIT THEIR OBEYING THE COMMANDMENT, “SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOR.”
In 1999-2002 I led campaigns with small groups going door to door giving away truck loads of National Sunday Law "little preachers" as Jan Marcussen called them. My team literally covered almost every town in Oregon! We also passed out truck loads of Great Controversy, Steps to Christ, and many others. We covered the Universities for nearly a year; all the cars parked at the Mall just before Christmas, and once I actually passed out approximately 500 books inside the lobby of a First-Baptist church as the people were leaving!
WHAT SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST TAUGHT ABOUT MARK OF THE BEAST FROM 1915 – TODAY!
Today most Adventist still subscribe to the Review and Herald, July 13, 1897 Statement:
“WHEN YOU OBEY THE DECREE THAT COMMANDS YOU TO CEASE FROM LABOR ON SUNDAY AND WORSHIP GOD, . . . YOU CONSENT TO RECEIVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST.”
Many of them even subscribe to the later statements made in the early 20th century which suddenly said IT WAS NOW OK TO CEASE FROM LABOR ON SUNDAY AND WORSHIP GOD, WITHOUT FEAR OF RECEIVING THE MARK OF THE BEAST.
When Adventists are confronted with the contradictory nature of the two positions in Ellen White’s writings they often devise a NEW Mark of the Beast scenario.
Some modern Adventist’s teach THE MARK OF THE BEAST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SUNDAY WHATSOEVER, but is merely the refusal to keep the Sabbath.Despite the fact that taking this position FLIES IN THE FACE OF EVERY ADVENTIST STATEMENT ON THE MARK FO THE BEAST FROM 1850-1899!
So why all the fuss about a National Sunday Law being enforced? After all Ellen White said ,
“MAKE NO DEMONSTRATION ON SUNDAY IN DEFIANCE OF LAW.” – Testimonies Vol. 9 p. 235.
Speaking out of both sides of her mouth! On one had she says if you obey the Sunday Law you get the mark of the Beast. Then she says go ahead and obey the Sunday law!
Ellen White, Great Controversy, p. 281. wrote: “The keeping of the counterfeit Sabbath is the reception of the mark.”
Ellen White, Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 117. wrote: “The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of creation. . . . The mark of the beast is the opposite of this–the observance of the first day of the week.”
Ellen White, Evangelism, p. 234. wrote: “The mark of the beast is the papal sabbath.”
Ellen White, Letter 31, 1898. wrote: “What Is the Mark of the Beast?–John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast and his image by keeping the first day of the week. The observance of this day is the mark of the beast.”
Ellen White, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 980. wrote: “When the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the mark of the beast is. It is the keeping of Sunday.”
By 1909 the Adventist prophetess, Ellen White had completely controverted her earlier 19th century teaching, It was now OK to….
- · Cease From Work on Sunday
- · Conduct Religious Services on Sunday
- · Assemble with other Christians for worship on Sunday
- · Sing genuine revival hymns on Sunday
- · Preach intensely interesting sermons on Sunday
- · Conduct Missionary Outreach Work on Sunday
- · Devote Sunday to writing religious articles.
Since Ellen White specifically said The Mark of the Beast is “is the keeping of Sunday,” in one place and in another said it is, “the observance of the first day of the week” WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT “KEEPING” AND “OBSERVING THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK” IS IF IT IS NOT THE THINGS I JUST LISTED ABOVE?
Let’s go through Ellen White’s CHECK LIST
IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST?
- Ceasing From Work on Sunday. . . . ELLEN WHITE SAYS NO!
- Conducting Religious Services on Sunday. . . . ELLEN WHITE SAYS NO!
- Assembling with other Christians for worship on Sunday. . . . ELLEN WHITE SAYS NO!
- Singing genuine revival hymns on Sunday. . . . ELLEN WHITE SAYS NO!
- Preaching intensely interesting sermons on Sunday. . . . ELLEN WHITE SAYS NO!
- Conducting Missionary Outreach Work on Sunday. . . . ELLEN WHITE SAYS NO!
- Devoting Sunday to writing religious articles.. . . . ELLEN WHITE SAYS NO!
1. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT HOW “KEEPING” AND “OBSERVING THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK,” CONSTITUTES THE MARK OF THE BEAST SINCE IT IS NONE OF THESE THINGS?
2. BY ALL MEANS DEAR SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST BROTHERS AND SISTERS, PLEASE GIVE ME THE “THIRD ANGELS MESSAGE” AND TELL ME WHAT THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS? Anyone?
I began The Loud Cry Ministry as a 5 day a week radio broadcast in Springfield, Oregon on KORE Radio 1050 AM February 2000. We were on the air for three years, through February 2003 preaching the full Adventist message 5 days a week, including the "Mark of the Beast."
Let’s go back to the beginning…
THE ADVENTIST POSITION ON THE MARK OF THE BEAST FROM 1850 – 1899
- WORSHIPING JESUS ON SUNDAY OFFENDS GOD! What ever you do, do not worship God during that 24 hours. God does not like that at all!
- ASSEMBLING WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS ON SUNDAY OFFENDS GOD! What ever you do, avoid other Christians during that 24 hours. God does not like that at all!
- CEASING FROM WORK ON SUNDAY OFFENDS GOD! What ever you do, MAKE SURE TO WORK during that 24 hours. God does not like you resting on that day that at all!
Does that even make sense? Is there even one verse in the Bible that says anything like that? NO!
- Does the Bible ever warn Christians that WORSHIPING JESUS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK OFFENDS GOD? NO!
- Does the Bible ever warn Christians that ASSEMBLING WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK OFFENDS GOD? NO!
- Does the Bible ever warn Christians that CEASING FROM WORK ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK OFFEND GOD? NO!
Q. How can God be just, and punish the whole world with the 7 last plaques, and the lake of fire without one scripture warning them against “keeping” or “observing the first day of the week?”
Q. If God is going to punish THE WHOLE WORLD with the 7 last plaques and the Lake of Fire, wouldn’t it make sense that at least one scripture should plainly tell them why?
“Thou shalt not congregate on the first day of the week for I am a Jealous God. Neither shalt thou worship me on the first day of the week. All who gather together and worship me on the first day of the week are false worshipers and will suffer my wrath in the last days and will be cast into hell were there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Now that would be a proof text! Unfortunately there is no hint of such a text. Besides how can God condemn THE WHOLE WORLD for something that Paul himself did?
Whether Acts 20:7 teaches that Christians met Saturday night as Adventist teach or if they met Sunday morning as Evangelicals believe SIMPLY DOES NOT MATTER. The fact remains either way that the Bible gives the example of New Testament Christians ASSEMBLING TOGETHER AND LISTENING TO A SERMON ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. How can God approve of Paul doing so, and then later condemn the WHOLE WORLD and torture them with the 7 last plagues and the lake of fire for doing the exact same thing the apostle Paul and the early church did? Either way you interpret Acts 20:7 it is still an apostle along with a group of Christians assembling on the first day of the week for a sermon. Even if this only happened once as Adventist like to believe, it still happened.
Please understand that a National Sunday Law would allegedly compel Sunday, it would NOT restrict the observance of Saturday. If that were the case we ought to be hearing Adventist warn against the coming National Saturday Law. The reality is that either position is purely fiction. There is no chance of either a National Sunday Law, or a law restricting Seventh-day Adventists from resting and worshiping God on Saturday.
The United States Sunday Laws are heading in the opposite direction than Ellen White predicted. While it is true that Germany and some other countries have nation wide Sunday Closing laws, Ellen White predicted it was going to be the United States that would lead the world in Sunday Closing Laws. ALL BUT THREE STATES HAVE REPEALED THEIR SUNDAY CLOSING “BLUE LAWS.” Most have done so just since 2008! http://www.sundaybluelaws.org/news.html
The Sunday Closing “Blue Laws” in the United States are quickly becoming extinct. They are the remnants of the over zealous Puritans of the 16th and 17th centuries. An era of the Salem witch trials. During that time a great number of dumb laws were legislated including laws against wearing suspenders, and chewing gum in public! Ellen White wrote during a time when many of those archaic ideas still dominated the legal system. As far as the Sunday Closing laws in the United States are concerned, they are “history,” just like the Puritans who instituted them! Adventists are still living in the past. The Lord’s Day Alliance encourages church attendance on Sunday, but is a far cry from the Puritans with their Witch trials.
Statement by Tim Norton, Director of Lord’s Day Alliance
“I believe in the volunteer way of worship and I do not believe that there should ever be a state church and therefore do not propound any kind of a civil religion.
“I appreciate the freedom we have in our country and as I told you, I will do everything I can to help maintain that freedom, which includes freedom of worship. It is also completely foreign to me…to be involved in any kind of persecution with anyone who disagreed with me on any subject including the day of worship. …we believe that the best way for people to worship as they should, is to worship as they are led without any legislation forcing that worship or that day of rest.”
QUESTION: Are you in favor of passing Sunday legislation which would prohibit Seventh-day Adventists from working on Sunday?
ANSWER: Absolutely Not! No laws should be passed to prohibit anyone from working on Sunday.
QUESTION: Do you believe it is likely, or even possible, that Sunday legislation recognizing Sunday as a national holiday will be passed in the next 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?
ANSWER: No, nor would we ever be supportive of such an effort.
QUESTION: Would you favor legislation to force Seventh-day Adventists to honor Sunday on penalty of imprisonment or death?
ANSWER: Absolutely not…this would be preposterous. This idea of supporting such penalties for not honoring Sunday has been attributed to our organization in the past, but such claims have never been true.
QUESTION: Do you favor a worldwide, universal Sunday law to enforce Sunday observance upon the entire world?
ANSWER: Absolutely not.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16
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