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History of The Sabbath True Observance.
History of The Sabbath True Observance.
Introduction:
Great blessings are enfolded in the observance of the Sabbath, and God
desires that the Sabbath day shall be to us a day of joy He desires that the
Sabbath shall direct our minds to Him as the true and living God, and that
through knowing Him we may have life and peace. 6T 349.
As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came
out of Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now
distinguishes Gods people as they come out from the world to enter the
heavenly rest. The Sabbath is a sign of the relationship existing between God
and His people, a sign that they honor His law. It distinguishes between His
loyal subjects and transgressors.
A. Time of Creation: (Read Gen. 2: 1 - 3), The weekly cycle of seven literal
days, six for labor, and the seventh for rest, which has been preserved and
brought down through Bible history, originated in the great fact of the first
seven days. 3SG 90; 1 BC 1 082
B. Time of the Exodus: (Read Exo. 1 6: 21 - 26), The God of Heaven gives
them food to eat during six days, yet on the Sabbath they couldnt find it.
The Lord has commanded that the baking and seething be done on the sixth
day. Food for the Sabbath should be prepared the day before. Sermons and
Talks Volume Two (1994) {2SAT 227.3}
On the Sabbath, God rested from the work of creation, and was refreshed.
He blessed the day of His rest, and has made it obligatory upon man to keep
the Sabbath. This command of God should be sacredly observed. {2SAT
227.4} Not all who profess to be followers of Christ are exemplary Sabbath
keepers, but may God help us to reform! All should read the commandments of
God, and plant their feet firmly upon the platform of obedience.--Ms 30,
1903 (MR 900.70).
C. Time at Mt. Sinai in Giving the Decalogue: (Read Exo. 20: 8- 1 1 ; 35: 2-
3), Every man has been placed on trial, as were Adam and Eve in Eden. As the
tree of knowledge was the test of Adams obedience, so the fourth command
is the test that God has given to prove the loyalty of all His people. Heed
First Word of the Fourth Commandment. Remember is placed at the very
first of the fourth commandment All through the week keep the Lords Holy
Sabbath in view, for that day is to be devoted to the service of God. It is a
day when the hands are to rest from worldly employment, when the souls
needs are to receive special attention. RH Aug. 30. 1 898; 1 BC 1 1 07.
No cooking, baking or kindling of fire on the Sabbath day.
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Principle # 3: We should keep the Sabbath Holy and reverently
no work is done.
E. Time of Gods Prophets, Isaiah and Ezekiel: (Read Isa. 56: 2; 58: 1 3
and Ezek. 20: 1 2, 20).
1. Isaiah As the end approaches, the testimonies of Gods servants will
become, more powerful, flashing the light of truth upon the systems of
error and oppressions that have so long held the supremacy. The Lord has
sent us messages for this time to establish Christianity upon an eternal
basis, and all who believe present truth must stand, not in their own
wisdom, but in God, and raise up the foundation of many generation. These
will be registered in the books of heaven as repairers of the breach and
the restorer of paths to dwell in. Letter 1 1 , 1 890; 4BC 1 1 54.
2. Ezekiel Those who trample upon Gods authority, and show contempt to
the law given in such grandeur at Sinai, virtually despise the LAW-GIVER,
the great JEHOVAH By transgressing the law which God had given in
such majesty, and amid glory which was unapproachable, the people
showed open contempt of the great LAW-GIVER, and death was the
penalty. 3SG 284, 300; 4BC 1 1 63.
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F. Time of Jesus and the Disciples: (Read Mark 2: 27, 28; Lk. 4: 1 6), It
was Jesus custom that He keeps the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for
man. In accordance with his instruction, the followers of Christ were enabled
to depart from the besieged city, and escape to the mountains, not taking
their flight either in the winter, nor upon the Sabbath day. After the death
of Christ the disciples "rested the Sabbath day according to the
commandment." After the ascension of Christ, Paul, the great apostle to the
Gentiles, preached to both Jews and Gentiles "on the Sabbath day." {ST,
November 12, 1894 par. 5}
G. Time of the Crucifixion: (Read Lk. 23: 53- 56), The women prepared
spices and ointments, and rested on the Sabbath day according to the
commandment. "Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter; neither on the
Sabbath day," Christ said. He who made the Sabbath did not abolish it, nailing
it to His cross. The Sabbath was not rendered null and void by His death.
Forty years after His crucifixion it was still to be held sacred. For forty
years the disciples were to pray that their flight might not be on the Sabbath
day. {DA 630.4}
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Principle # 9: As the early Christians follow Christ, we should
also do.
I. Time of the New Heaven and New Earth: (Read Isa. 66: 22- 23) The
Sabbath was not for Israel merely, but for the world. It had been made
known to man in Eden, and, like the other precepts of the Decalogue, it is of
imperishable obligation. Of that law of which the fourth commandment forms
a part, Christ declares, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall
in nowise pass from the law." So long as the heavens and the earth endure, the
Sabbath will continue as a sign of the Creator's power. And when Eden shall
bloom on earth again, God's holy rest day will be honored by all beneath the
sun. "From one Sabbath to another" the inhabitants of the glorified new earth
shall go up "to worship before Me, saith the Lord." Matthew 5: 1 8; Isaiah
66: 23. {DA 283. 2}
The Sabbath is a golden clasp that unites God and His people. But the
Sabbath command has been broken. Gods holy day has been desecrated. 6T
351 .
If thou turn thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my
holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and
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shall honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor
speaking thine own words. Isa. 58: 1 3
The church of God below is one with the church of God above. Believers
on the earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen constitute one
church. Every heavenly intelligence is interested in the assemblies of the
saints who on earth meet to worship God. 6T 366.
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gluttony upon the Sabbath, which he has set apart for sacred meditation and
worship. 3SG 253.
And he said unto them, This that which the Lord hath said, Tomorrow is
the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake
today, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up
for you to be kept until the morning. Exodus 1 6: 23.
On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See that all
the clothing is in readiness and that all the cooking is done. Let the boots be
blacked, and the baths be taken. It is possible to do this. If you make it a rule
you can do it. 6T 365; CG 528.
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holy day, as they would watch for the coming of a dear friend. ST May 25,
1 882.
Let none come to the place of worship to take a nap. There should be no
sleeping in the house of God. You do not fall asleep when engaged in your
temporal business, because you have an interest in your work. Shall we allow
the service which involves eternal interest to be placed on a lower level than
the temporal affairs of life? 6T 361
b) At home:
When we do this we miss the blessing which the Lord designs us to have.
The Sabbath is not to be a day of useless idleness. Both in the home and in
the church a spirit of service is to be manifested. He who gave us six days for
our temporal work has blessed and sanctified the seventh day and set it apart
for himself. On this day He will in a special manner bless all who consecrate
themselves to His service. 6T 361 , 362.
Let not the precious hours of the Sabbath be wasted in bed. 6T 357.
F. Traveling on Sabbath
If we desire the blessing promised to the obedient, we must observe the
Sabbath more strictly. I fear that we often travel on this day when it might
be avoided. In harmony with the light, which the Lord has given in regard to
the observance of the Sabbath, we should be more careful about traveling on
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the boats or cars on this day. In these matters we should set a right example
before our children and youth. In order to reach the churches that need our
help, and to give them the message that God desires them to hear, it may be
necessary for us to travel on the Sabbath; but so far as possible we should
secure our tickets and make all necessary arrangements on some other day.
When starting on a journey we should make every possible effort to plan so as
to avoid reaching our destination on the Sabbath.
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Partial observances of the Sabbath law is not accepted by the Lord and
has a worse effect upon the minds of sinners than if you made no profession
of being a Sabbath-keeper. 4T 248.
Those who are not fully converted to the truth frequently let their minds
run freely upon worldly business, and, although they may rest from physical
toil upon the Sabbath, their tongues speak out what is in their minds; hence
these words concerning cattle, crops, losses, and gains. All this is Sabbath
breaking. If the mind is running upon worldly matters, the tongue will reveal it;
for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
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J. Care of the Children on the Sabbath
a) In the Church:
Above everything, take care of your children upon the Sabbath. Do not
let them violate it, for you may just as well violate it yourself as to let your
children do it. When you suffer your children to play the Sabbath, God looks
upon you as a commandment breaker. You transgress His Sabbath. 3SM 257.
b) At home:
Before the setting of the sun let the members of the family assemble to
read Gods word, to sing and pray. There is need of reform here, for many
have been remiss. We need to confess to God and to one another. We should
begin anew to make special arrangements that every member of the family
may be prepared to honor the day which God has blessed and sanctified. 6T
356, 367.
They (the entire family) come to the table without levity. Boisterous
noise and contention should not be allowed any day of the week; but on the
Sabbath all should observe quietness. No loud-toned commands should be
heard at any time; but on the Sabbath is entirely out of place. This is Gods
holy day; the day He has set is entirely out of place. This is Gods holy day,
the day He has set apart to commemorate His creative works, a day He has
sanctified and hallowed. 3SM 257, 258.
In pleasant weather let parents walk with their children in the fields and
groves. Amid the beautiful things of nature tell them the reason for the
institution of the Sabbath. Describe to them Gods great work of creation. 6T
358.
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Conclusion:
The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty; for it is the point of truth
especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon
men. Then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God
and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false Sabbath in
compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment,
will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the
keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to Gods law, is an evidence of
loyalty to the Creator. GC 605.
Would you like to study more about the prophecies in the Bible? These
are the following topics for you to know as a Seventh day Adventist.
Website : www.threeangelsherald.org
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