EST. 2024
THE WATCHMAN’S QUARTERLY
Ever Vigilant In Defense of Religious Liberty
Words Worthy of Consideration
“Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right...and a desire to know...”
-John Adams, Dissertation on the Canon & the Feudal Law (1765)
“The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”
-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison 1787
“Whoever would overthrow a nation must begin by subduing the freedom of speech; a thing terrible to public traitors.”
-Benjamin Franklin, Silence Dogwood
“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost. ”
-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Currie, Jan. 28th, 1786
“Eternal Vigilance is the price of liberty. ”
-The Life of Major General James Jackson
“As faithful watchmen you should see the sword coming and give the warning, that men and women may not pursue a course through ignorance that they would avoid if they knew the truth. ”
-Last Day Events pg. 127.4
What is The Watchman’s Quarterly?
This publication is addressed to the little flock that follows the Lamb withersoever He goes More specifically, it is addressed to those of that number currently residing in these United States of America. Its purpose is the preparation of that people to stand true to God by the passing of the national Sunday law. Though all may surely benefit from a close study of its pages, its targeted audience is that small company, that they may stand intelligently in defense of religious liberty.
For many today who call themselves Seventh-day Adventists, the long held anticipation of a national Sunday law in these United States seems exhausted. Often leaping at the sound of uncertain trumpeters, we’ve lost not only our sense of urgency but the ability to discern the very real dangers to religious liberty that exist in Washington today. Others, swelling with anticipation for this critical event, are no more prepared to meet it than the first mentioned group. Sadly, if the crisis were to break today, we’d have no more to say in defense of religious liberty than “I told you so. I told you this would happen.” Beloved, God expects much more from us at this time.
The aim of this small publication is to assist in the preparation of His faithful remnant through an education on right principles. I address that company now for the preservation and dissemination of these truths in love. May its pages generate study, discussion, and much, much prayer. Get ready, get ready, get ready!
Your servant in the faith, Br. Paul P.-Punch
America’s Role in Bible Prophecy
Beloved, we concluded our last issue with an historic analysis of the Papal system as described in Rev. 13:1-10. It was our intention to continue here from where we left off. However, due to recent developments, we’ll be momentarily moving forward before circling back to that subject. We believe that special attention must now be given to that 2nd beast (kingdom) of Revelation 13--the United States of America. Let us prayerfully read Revelation 13:11-18 and then consider the following statements.
From Religious Freedom to Religious Intolerance
“ ...an angel explained that waters represent “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Rev. 17:15. Winds are a symbol of strife. The four winds of heaven striving upon the great sea represent the terrible scenes of conquest and revolution by which kingdoms have attained to power. But the beast with lamblike horns was seen “coming up out of the earth. ” Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the nation thus represented must arise in territory previously unoccupied and grow up gradually and peacefully. It could not, then, arise among the crowded and struggling nationalities of the Old World that turbulent sea of “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues ” It must be sought in the Western Continent ”
(The Great Controversy pg. 439.3-440.1)
THE IDENTITY OF THE 2ND BEAST (Kingdom)
“What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of the world? The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United States of America. “
-The Great Controversy pg. 440.2
“Among the Christian exiles who first fled to America and sought an asylum from royal oppression and priestly intolerance were many who determined to establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty. Their views found place in the Declaration of Independence (1)Republicanism and (2)Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus represented. The “speaking” of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities...The prediction that it will speak “as a dragon” and exercise “all the power of the first beast” plainly foretells a development of the spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the nations represented by the dragon and the leopardlike beast. And the statement that the beast with two horns “causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast” indicates that the authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to the papacy. Such action would be directly contrary to the principles of this government, to the genius of its free institutions, to the direct and solemn avowals of the Declaration of Independence, and to the Constitution. ”
(The Great Controversy pg. 441.1-442.2)
Analyzing some significant points
An Asylum from Civil & Religious Persecution
On July 4th 1776, just 22 years prior to the Papacy receiving its deadly wound by the sword of France [Rev 13:10], America was silently rising into prominence. Unlike the Papacy which arose from “the sea” [Rev. 13:1] representing the “crowded and struggling nationalities of the Old World that turbulent sea of “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues,” this nation emerged from “the earth” [Rev. 13:11] an area previously unoccupied by those European powers And to what end was this nation established? To be a place of safety for God’s people. As prophesied, “the earth” provided an asylum for God’s church [Jer. 6:2] as she fled “the floods of ungodly men” that persecuted her [Rev. 12:13-16, Ps. 18:4].
The Secret of America’s Power Reveals the Secret of Her Fall
According to inspiration, “the secret” of the “power & prosperity” of this nation are those two fundamental principles upheld by its current Constitution & Declaration of Independence: (1)Republicanism & (2)Protestantism. It must be apparent therefore that if ever America were to fall it would be due to the repudiation of these two principles According to the Bible, America, legislating the mark of the Beast (Papacy), will forfeit the benefits of these two principles and the inevitable result, national ruin, will swiftly follow If we can discern what the mark of the Beast/Papacy is it will become much easier to discern where we are today in relation to this fatal legislation in America.
The Papacy Speaks for Itself
“SUNDAY IS OUR MARK of authority...the Church is above the Bible and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact. ”
(The Catholic Record, London, Ontario, Sept. 1st 1923)
“From this same Catholic Church, you have accepted your Sunday, and that Sunday, as the Lord’s day, she has handed down a tradition; and the entire Protestant world has accepted it a tradition, for you have not an iota of Scripture to establish it. Therefore, that which you have accepted as your rule of faith, inadequate as it of course is, as well as your Sunday, you have accepted on the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. ”
(D. B. Ray, “The Papal Controversy,” 1892 pg. 179)
“Reason and sense demand the acceptance of the one or the other of these alternatives: either Protestantism and the keeping holy of Saturday or Catholicity and the keeping holy of Sunday. Compromise is impossible. ”
-James Cardinal Gibbons, Catholic Mirror, Dec. 23rd 1983
“If the Bible is the only guide for the Christian, then the Seventh-day Adventist is right in observing the Saturday with the Jew. But Catholics learn what to believe and do from the divine, infallible authority established by Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church Is it not strange that those who make the Bible their only teacher should inconsistently follow in this matter the tradition of the Church?” (“Question Box” by Conway, 1903 Edition, pages 254-255)
According to the Papacy themselves, the Protestant world is gravely mistaken in honoring Sunday as the Lord’s Day and in so doing they unknowingly pay homage to the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, acknowledging their blasphemous claim of being “above the Bible. ” If the Bible is the rule of faith then the 7th day Sabbath is the Christian’s day of worship If the Pope’s authority is the rule of faith then the sun day--THE MARK OF THE PAPCY (Beast) is to be accepted. Rev. 13 foretells of a final struggle over this issue of “worship” to take place worldwide, beginning in the United States when this mark of the beast shall be legislated--a national Sunday law compelling all to accept that false day of worship
It has long been the policy of Satan to persecute those that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [Rev 12:17] and with the legislation of Sunday Worship here in America, he will finally secure his object of enlisting the entire world in his rebellion against the government of God The entire world will fall to apostasy, worshiping both the Papacy and the Dragon, while thinking that they are serving God [Rev. 13:3-4, John 16:2]. The question now is how close are we today to this legislation of Sunday worship & the persecution that will inevitably follow?
Analysing the Trajectory of Events
When this nation was founded it was by men who sought a land without pope or king The Bible clearly states that though she arose with two horns like a Lamb--the principles of (1)Protestantism & (2)Republicanism, America “spoke as a dragon” [Rev. 13:11], that intolerant, persecuting power of Rev. 12:13, 17. It is no secret that a nation speaks through its legislation and thus we are called to look to the Legislative Branch of the American Government, Congress, for signs of this prophetic change Let us recall the events of Sept. 24th 2015, nearly ten years ago now, to recognize the aftermath of that day. Some may feel that because this event occurred nearly a decade ago that there is therefore little significance to it in the unfolding of prophecy going on today. If that is our stance beloved, we are gravely mistaken.
On September 24th 2015, history was made! For the first time ever the Pope of Rome addressed the United States Congress! This alone was a most alarming signal of great changes soon to come but what makes this event all the more interesting is the identity of this particular pope who affected American history Pope Francis is the 1st ever Jesuit Pope!. IT WAS A JESUIT THAT WAS INVITED TO ADDRESS THE LAWMAKERS OF AMERICA! Not only had this never happened prior to this--this could never have happened prior to this! To better understand the significance of that day, we need only to review the common historic view of that order called the Jesuits, shared by the founding fathers of this nation and others.
James Madison
2nd President of the USA
“Their [the Jesuits] restoration is indeed a step toward darkness, cruelty, despotism, and death...I do not like the appearance of the Jesuits. If ever there was a body of men who merited eternal damnation on earth and in hell, it is this Society of Loyola!”
“It is my opinion that if the liberties of this country--the United States of America--are destroyed, it will be by the subtlety of the Roman Catholic Jesuit priests, for they are the most crafty, dangerous enemies to civil and religious liberty! They have instigated most of the wars of Europe.”
Abraham Lincoln
16th President of the USA
French Statesmen/General
[On the American Civil War of 1861-1865]
“The war would never have been possible without the sinister influence of the Jesuits. ”
Marquis de LaFayette
Napoleon Bonaparte French General/ Emperor
“The Jesuits are a military oranization, not a religious order. Their chief is a general of an army, not the mere father abbot of a monastery. And the aim of this organization is power--power in its most despotic exercise--absolute power, universal power, power to control the world by the volition of a single man. ”
“The Jesuits...are simply the Romish army for the earthly sovereignty of the world in the future, with the Pontiff of Rome for emperor...that’s their ideal...It is simply lust for power, of filthy earthly gain, of domination-something like a universal serfdom with them as masters-that’s all they stand for. ”
Robert J. Breckinridge Politician/Presb. Minister
Fyodor Dostoevsky Famous Russian Novelist
“The Society of Jesus [the Jesuit Order] is the enemy of man. The whole human race should unite for its overthrow...For there is no alternative between its total extirpation, and the absolute corruption and degradation of mankind. ”
Friedrich von Hardenberg Politician/Presb. Minister
“Never before in the course of the world’s history had such a society [the Jesuit Order] appeared. The old Roman Senate itself did not lay schemes for world domination with greater certainty of success. ”
The testimony of these men, as recorded in the pages of history, is very clear The order to which Jesuit Pope Francis belongs is a universally recognized and condemned military organization whose aim has always been the total subjection of humanity to the Papacy with the Pope as head of the world. Contrary to popular opinion today, the leopard-like Beast has not changed its spots--her aim and methods remain the same. Inspiration provides us with the following words, echoing the warning of history Let us consider and reconsider these words for a moment before making an application.
“Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by formidable foes. The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery...they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power... Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations The Jesuits rapidly spread themselves over Europe, and wherever they went, there followed a revival of popery. ”
(The Great Controversy pg. 234.2-235.1)
Historic Moment: Jesuit Pope Francis Addresses the United States Congress Sept. 24th 2015
The warning is too obvious to miss. Speaking of their unholy order, Inspiration warns us that “wherever” the Jesuits go their follows “a revival of popery!” What then should the student of Bible prophecy be expecting to occur in the United States of America at some point following the historic visit of Jesuit Pope Francis to Congress in 2015? We must expect a revival of popery in this nation! The fact that he targeted the policy making power of the nation should come as no surprise because they “work their way into offices of state” in order to “shape the policy of nations. ” Great changes are soon to take place in this nation, changes favorable to the Jesuit agenda and it will be the policies/laws of America that will make this possible. The question then becomes how close is America today, to legislating policies that favor the Papacy? How close is America to legislating the mark of the Beast--the national Sunday law?
Left wing or Right Wing, the Papacy has become the counselor of the same one bird!
Beloved, the sharing of the following information should not be misinterpreted as promoting/soliciting support on either side of the political question of who should be the next President of the United States. Many of the Lord’s people are so thoroughly occupied by that and they either cannot see the development of this issue or refuse to discuss it for fear of weakening the influence of their favored political party, As ambassadors for Christ, we ought to be watching for the approaching of the mark of the beast and warning all who will hear the message. The Bible is clear, this is a matter of eternal life [Rev. 13:8]! We cannot afford to remain silent on this issue. JESUS IS DEPENDING ON THOSE WHO PROFESS FAITH IN THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE!
In recent weeks, the spotlight has been on Project 2025's Mandate for Leadership--a Conservative plan for what the next Republican administration should look like. For many, its pages threaten the very end of (1)Republicanism here in America. What many fail to realize is how Project 2025, if successful, also threatens the end of (2)Protestantism in America as prophesied in Rev. 13. On page 589 of this nearly 1,000 page document, in the section regarding Labor, Religion & Sabbath we read concerning the policy agenda of this movement
Beloved, here we have a movement of professed Christians in America calling for the legislation of Sunday Sabbath laws by Congress. According to the Bible, we are watching the formation of what John called the image of the beast [Rev 13:15-16] calling for legislation of the mark of the beast! This should be no surprise. Inspiration informed us that after that historic meeting of Jesuit Pope Francis with the Congress of America, we should have been anticipating a revival of popery via a change in our policies. We are watching this unfold before our very eyes! Sadly, the majority of Seventhday Adventists today either don’t recognize what is happening or refuse to call attention to it. In our silence, the very stones have been made to cry out & God is using ministers of other denominations to denounce the Christian Nationalist Movement and Project 2025 for their unChristian advances upon the civil power of this nation. But make no mistake, ”indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God,” [5T pg. 280.3].
How Spiritualism & the Occult Are Involved
The prophecy concerning the United States specifies that during the final crisis involving the mark of the beast [national Sunday law], America “doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, ” [Rev. 13:13-14]. Now there’s no need to dispute varying opinions as to what this miracle of fire means. Bible history discloses to us the fact that Satan’s policy is to counterfeit the work of God in order to deceive His people. You’ll recall on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 when the disciples had received the power [Acts 1:8] of the Holy Spirit, “there appeared unto them cloves of tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,” [Acts 2:3-4].
The coming of this fire meant that God’s church was given power to speak what they were given to speak--the gospel of Jesus. Revelation 13 prophesied a counterfeiting of this very thing! In the United States of America there will be a counterfeit outpouring of the Holy Spirit, just prior to the genuine outpouring of the latter rain upon God’s commandment keeping people. What will be the result? “And he had POWER to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both SPEAK, and cause that as many as would not WORSHIP the image of the beast should be killed...” [Rev. 13:15]. This false fire gives power to apostate Protestantism in America, to speak and force the world to legislate the worship dictated by them, the very same Sunday Sabbath legislation proposed in this Project 2025 agenda Take note also of the fact that in Elijah’s contest with the priests of Baal on Mt. Carmel, the controversy over the true God and His true worship was answered by fire from the sky [1 Kings 18]. True, it was not then permitted for Satan to give a false signal of approval on behalf of the false god Baal but this will not be so in the final crisis just ahead of us. Satan will be permitted to work with all his lying wonders and the people of God must lean upon the Bible as our only safeguard against these spiritualistic manifestations of power.
Of course the question must now be asked, who sent the fire? Who is the cause of this false revival, this counterfeiting of the latter rain? Again, the Bible leaves no question unanswered, “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” [Rev. 16:14]. So we clearly see, that in connection with the mark of the beast crisis, this final issue over the true God and His true worship, spiritualism will be actively involved in order to deceive the entire world That being said, IF the agenda brought to view in Project 2025 is in fact Satan’s effort to bring on the national Sunday law crisis what should we expect to see in connection with this movement? A movement of spiritualism seeking to do its deceptive work at the same time as this movement is. Let’s qualify this conclusion before we consider it further.
“By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. 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 for the Church Vol. 5 pg. 451.1)
“The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.”
(The Great Controversy pg. 593.1)
“As we near the close of time, there will be greater and still greater external parade of heathen power; heathen deities will manifest their signal power, and will exhibit themselves before the cities of the world... ” (Evangelism pg. 705.1)
I pray that the point is abundantly clear to us by now that in connection with the national Sunday law, prophecy alerts us to the coming of Antichrist [Satan himself personating Jesus Christ] with his devils, in the form of heathen deities, exhibiting themselves in all the world and endorsing the proposed Sunday Sabbath legislation-the mark of the Beast. Now please follow the thought process beloved in order to grasp the solemnity of the present hour. IF Project 2025 succeeds in getting Congress to begin legislating with regard to the so-called Sunday Sabbath, IF Project 2025 succeeds in that regard, then we
are now merely moments to the mark of the beast crisis and all of the events to follow. This includes the marvelous working of Satan [marvel/miracle working] with the exhibition of his demons in the form of heathen deities working miracles Now IF this is so, the devil surely knows it, “because he knoweth that he hath but a short time, ” [Rev. 12:12]. IF this is his plan then surely he would be currently marshaling his forces together for the final crisis.
On the left of the page we have a woman by the name of Alice A. Bailey. If you are unaware as to who this woman was, she is an authoritative source for the occult world, revered and adhered to by the likes of even the United Nations. She was the founder and writer for Lucis Trust, which was originally called Lucifer’s Publishing Co. in 1922 according to the Library of Congress. Since that time she has published to the occult world, many of the words and plans of Satan, as given to her What we’re about to read then, must be understood as authoritative in the occult world.
In her book, The Externalization of the Hierarchy she wrote...
“Thus a great and new movement is proceeding & a tremendously increased interplay & interaction is taking place. This will go on until A.D. 2025. During the years intervening between now and then very great changes will be seen taking place, and at the great General Assembly of the Hierarchy...in 2025 the date in all probability will be set for the first stage of the externalization of the Hierarchy ” (The Externalization of the Hierarchy pg. 281.4)
What is meant by the date being set “in 2025” “for the first stage of the externalization of the Hierarchy?” That word externalization means the emergence of, coming out of, displaying of or exhibition of. The so called Hierarchy to which she refers is the very one exposed in the Bible when the Apostle said, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against (1)principalities, against (2)powers, against (3)the rulers of the darkness of this world, against (4)spiritual wickedness in high places, ” [Eph. 6:12]. This is the organization of Satanic forces worldwide and Satan himself is commander of these forces, this hierarchy as it were, thus Jesus called him “the prince of this world, ” [John 14:30] Now, according to Alice Bailey, Satan intends to have the date set in 2025 for the exhibition of his demons, something Inspiration warned us would only happen ”by the enforcing of the decree” in America regarding Sunday legislation. Can you see how near we are to the end of all things IF Project 2025 succeeds in getting Congress to legislate in that regard? I emphasize IF as a reminder that Satan, with all his planning is NOT IN CONTROL. Christ is waiting for His church to be prepared for this crisis! And according to His Word, the crisis will be held back as long as it takes to ready His church to meet it [Rev 7:1-3] The fact that these things are currently happening is an indicator that God’s people, somewhere, are nearly prepared. Are you in that number? If not, beloved, probation has not yet closed beloved. Cease procrastinating! Wake up!!
“As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth...in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. ”
(The Great Controversy pg. 624.2)
“Heretofore those who presented the truths of the third angel's message have often been regarded as mere alarmists. Their predictions that religious intolerance would gain control in the United States, that church and state would unite to persecute those who keep the commandments of God, have been pronounced groundless and absurd. It has been confidently declared that this land could never become other than what it has been the defender of religious freedom. But as the question of enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated, the event so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce an effect which it could not have had before.“
(The Great Controversy pg. 605.3)
More on this in issues to come. “Get ready! Get ready!! Get ready!!!”
OUR PRINCIPLES
1.The Bible is the Word of God and Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of the world.
2.The 10 commandments are the foundation of all morality and comprehend the whole duty of man, both to God and man.
3.The religion of Jesus Christ, being founded in the love of God, needs no human power to support or enforce it. Love cannot be forced.
4.It is the right, and should always be the privilege, of every individual to worship or not to worship, according to the dictates of their own conscience, provided that in the exercise of that right they do not interfere with the equal rights of others.
5.Civil government is of divine origin, designed for the protection of men in the enjoyment of their natural rights. It is ordained to rule in civil things and in this realm is entitled to the respectful obedience of all.
6.The civil power is not authorized to enter the realm of religion, enacting legislation to define or to enforce any religious dogma, ritual, or observance. Coercion in religious matters always means persecution.
7.All religious legislation on the part of the state, and all movements tending to unite church and state, are subversive of human rights, persecuting in character, and opposed to the best interests of both church and state.
8.It is proper, therefore, for all to protest against, and use every possible means to prevent, religious legislation, or the union of church and state, in order that all may enjoy the inestimable blessings of religious liberty.
"Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Romans 14:5 KJV