Prayer Thought:

6T 352, 353 The Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great

final conflict in which all the world will act a part God has called us to uplift
the standard of His downtrodden Sabbath. How important then that our
example in Sabbath-keeping should be right.

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.

To us (Seventh- day Adventist the Israel of today, 9T 1 64) as to

Israel the Sabbath is given for a perpetual covenant. To those who reverence
His holy day the Sabbath is a sign that God recognizes them His covenant.
Every soul who accepts the signs of Gods government places himself under the
divine, everlasting covenant. He fastens himself to golden chain of obedience,
every link of which is a promise. 6T 350.
I. Chronological History of the Sabbath
Let us therefore search for the gems of true principles in observing the 7th
day Sabbath from Creation until the New Heaven and New Earth.

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

Principle # 1: We Keep the Sabbath Holy because God is Our

Creator.

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).

Principle # 2: We dont work on the Sabbath because we believe

that God will provide.

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.

2
 Principle # 3: We should keep the Sabbath Holy and reverently
no work is done.

D. Time of the Bible Politician, Gov. Nehemiah: (Read Neh. 1 3: 1 5- 1 9),

All gates for strangers and merchants are close. No selling and buying on the
Sabbath day. At the restoration of Jerusalem, in the days of Nehemiah,
Sabbath-breaking was met with the stern inquiry, "Did not your fathers thus,
and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring
more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath." Nehemiah 13:18. {RH,
November 6, 1913 par. 14}

Principle # 4: We dont have worldly business on Sabbath

because God is our Partner.

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.

Principle # 5: Our worship on the Sabbath should be centered

solely to the Lord, not to anybody, or anything.

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.

Principle # 6: We Keep the Sabbath as a Sign and it will

sanctify us.

3
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}

Principle # 7: The Lord of the Sabbath is Jesus and He Set an

Example to follow.

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}

Principle # 8: Even at His Death He rested in the grave on

Sabbath day and His followers keep it according to the law.

H. Time of the Early Christian Church and the Remnant, in Prophecy

(Read Mk. 1 5: 42; Acts 1 7: 2; 1 8: 1 - 4; Heb. 4: 4- 1 0), The apostles were
keeping the Sabbath day during and after the death of Jesus Christ.
They listened, on one Sabbath day, with intense interest to the teachings of
Paul and Barnabas, who preached Jesus as the promised Messiah; and upon the
next Sabbath day, because of the multitude of Gentiles who assembled also to
hear them, they were excited to a frenzy of indignation, the words of the
apostles were distorted in their minds, and they were unfitted to weigh the
evidence presented by them. When they learned that the Messiah preached
by the apostles was to be a light to the Gentiles, as well as the glory of his
people Israel, they were beside themselves with rage, and used the most
insulting language to the apostles. Sketches from the Life of Paul(1883) {LP
49.1}

4
 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}

Principle # 10: The Seventh- day Sabbath will be observed even

in the New Heaven and New Earth, so it should be observed now!
To prepare for it.

II. The True Observance of the Seventh-day Sabbath

A. The Sacredness of the Sabbath
For more sacredness is attached to the Sabbath than is given it by many
professed Sabbath-keeper. The Lord has been greatly dishonored by those
who have not kept the Sabbath according to the commandment, either in the
letter or in the spirit. He calls for a reform in the observance of the
Sabbath. 6T 353.

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 .

God has called us to uplift the standard of His down-trodden Sabbath.

How important, then that our example in Sabbath-keeping should be right. 6T
353

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

5
shall honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor
speaking thine own words. Isa. 58: 1 3

B. Our Attitude in the Church on the Sabbath

As you enter the place of worship, ask the Lord to remove all evil from
your heart. Bring to his house only that which He can bless. Kneel before God
in His temple, and consecrate to Him His own, which He has purchased with
the blood Of Christ. Pray for the speaker of the leader of the meeting. Pray
that great blessing may come through the one who is to hold forth the word
of life. Strive earnestly to lay hold of a blessing for yourself. 6T 362, 363.

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.

God teaches that we should assemble in his house to cultivate the

attributes of perfect love. This will fit the dwellers of earth for the mansions
that Christ has gone to prepare from Sabbath to Sabbath, from one new moon
to another, to unite who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and
ever. 6T 368.

C. Cooking on the Sabbath

The Lord is no less particular now in regard to his Sabbath than when he
gave the foregoing special directions to the children of Israel. He required
them to bake that which they would bake and seethe (that is boil) that which
they would seethe on the sixth day, preparatory to the rest of the
Sabbath. Those who neglect to prepare for the Sabbath on the sixth day, and
who cook food upon the Sabbath violate the fourth commandment, and are
transgressors of Gods law. All who are really anxious to observe the Sabbath
according to the commandment will not cook any food upon the Sabbath. They
will, in the fear of that God who gave his law from Sinai, deny themselves, and
eat food prepared upon the sixth day, even if it is not as palatable. God
forbade the children of Israel baking and boiling upon the Sabbath. That
prohibition should be regarded by every Sabbath-keeper, as solemn injunction
from JEHOVAH to them. The Lord would guard his people from indulging in

6
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.

D. Bathing and shaving on the Sabbath

The violation of the fourth commandment is not confined to the
preparation of food. Many carelessly put off blacking their boots, and shaving,
until after the beginning of the Sabbath. This should not be. If any neglect to
do such work on a working day, they should have respect enough for Gods holy
time to let their beards remain unshaven, their boots rough and brown, until
the Sabbath is past. This might help their memory, and make them more
careful to do their own on the six working days.

At every camp-meeting, instruction should be given on all these points.

How can we expect the special blessing of God, unless we shun with
abhorrence the smallest sin? We should choose to suffer inconvenience, loss,
or privation, rather than disregard the instructions of the Lord. Our lack of
spirituality has been caused by our own course. We have gradually and
insensibly chosen to please ourselves instead of seeking to honor God.
Christian perfection consists in complete harmony of our will with the will of
our Creator. The inhabitants of heaven find, in obeying the will of God joy and
blessedness.

Let every family of Seventh-day Adventists honor God by a strict regard

of his law. The children should be taught to respect the Sabbath. On the day
of preparation, clothing should be put in proper repair, shoes polished, and
baths taken. Then around the family altar all should wait to welcome Gods

7
holy day, as they would watch for the coming of a dear friend. ST May 25,
1 882.

E. Sleeping on the Sabbath

a) In the church:

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.

None should feel at liberty to spend sanctified time in an unprofitable

manner, It is displeasing God for Sabbath-keepers to sleep during much of
the Sabbath. They dishonor their creator in so doing, and, by their example,
say that the six days are too precious for them to spend in resting. They must
make money, although it may be by robbing themselves of needed sleep, which
they make up by sleeping away holy time. They then excuse themselves, saying:
The Sabbath was given for a day of rest. I will not deprive myself of rest to
attend meeting: for I need rest. Such make a wrong use of the sanctified
day. 2T 704.

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
8
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.

When compelled to travel on the Sabbath we should try to avoid the

company of those who would draw our attention to worldly things. We should
keep our minds stayed upon God and commune with him. Whenever there is
opportunity we should speak to others in regard to the truth. We should
always be ready to relieve suffering and to help those in need. In such cases
God desires that the knowledge and wisdom He has given us should be put to
use. But we should not talk about matters of business or engage in common,
worldly conversation. At all times and in all places God requires us to prove our
loyalty to Him by honoring the Sabbath.6T 359, 360.

G. Discussing Business on the Sabbath

Those who discuss business matters or lay plans on the Sabbath are
regarded by God as though engaged in the actual transaction of business. To
keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even allow our minds to dwell upon those
of a worldly character. And the commandments includes all within our gates.
The inmates of the house are to lay aside their worldly business during the
sacred hours. All should unite to honor God by willing service upon his holy
day. PP. 307, 308.

When your temporal circumstances seem to require attention, you violate

the fourth commandment without companion. You make the keeping of Gods
law a matter of convenience, obeying or disobeying as your business or
inclination indicates. This is not honoring the Sabbath as a sacred institution.
You grieve the spirit of God and dishonor your Redeemer by pursuing this
reckless course.

9
 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.

The example of minister especially should be circumspect in this respect.

Upon the Sabbath they should conscientiously restrict themselves to
conversation upon religious themes to present truth, present duty, the
Christians hopes and fears, trials, conflicts, and afflictions; to overcoming at
last, and the reward to be received.

Ministers of Jesus should stand as reprovers to those who fail to

remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. They should kindly and solemnly
reprove those who engage in worldly conversation upon the Sabbath and at the
same time claim to be Sabbath-keepers. They should encourage devotion to
God upon His holy day. 2T 703, 704.

H. Washing Dishes on the Sabbath

We should charge all not to wash their dishes on the Sabbath if this can
possibly be avoided. God is dishonored by any unnecessary work done on His
holy day. It is not inconsistent, but proper, that the dishes should be left
unwashed till the close of the Sabbath, if this can be managed. 3SM 258.

I. The Edges of the Sabbath

We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that
every moment is consecrated, holy time. Whenever it is possible, employers
should give their workers the hours from Friday noon until the beginning of
the Sabbath. Give them time for preparation, that they may welcome the
Lords Day with quietness of mind. By such a course you will suffer no loss
even in temporal things. 6T 356.

10
J. Care of the Children on the Sabbath
a) In the Church:

The house of God is desecrated and the Sabbath violated by Sabbath

believers children. They run about the house, play, talk, and manifest their
evil tempers in the very meetings where the saints have met together to
glorify God and to worship Him in the beauty of holiness

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.

11
Conclusion:

Therefore, we striving to be among Gods servant should past the test of

the Sabbath. According to Gods servant, Mrs. E. G. White, I saw that Jesus
had shut the door of the holy place, and no man can open it; and that He had
opened the door into the most holy, and no man can shut it (Rev. 3: 7, 8); an
that since Jesus has opened the door into the most holy place, which contains
the Ark, the commandments have been shining out to Gods people, and they
are being tested on the Sabbath question. EW 42.

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.

The Importance of the Sanctuary, Daniel and Revelation Prophecies, Daniel 2

(The Mighty Stone), Rev. 7 (The 144,000 and the Great Multitude), Mat. 20
(The 11th Hour Call), Zech. 6:1-8 (The Great Paradox of Ages), The
Establishment of the Kingdom of Glory, Hosea 1 & 2 (Old and New testament
Church History Depicted in One Family), Mat. 13 (The Harvest), Zech. 4 (The
Golden Bowl), Eph. 2:19-22 (The Temples in Type and Antitype), Ezek. 4 (The
Grains), Rev. 12 (The Woman and the Dragon), Rev. 13:1-10 (The Leopard Like
Beast [LLB]), Rev. 13:11-18 (The 2 Horned Beast [2HB]), Rev. 17 (The Woman
and the Scarlet Beast), Rev. 4, 5 (The Judgment and the Seven Seals), The
Seven Trumpets, Lev. 23 (The Ceremonial Harvest), Health Reform, Dress
Reform, Sabbath Reform, etc. just request through email:

Send an email to: gadsda_thaiasiafed@yahoo.com

Website : www.threeangelsherald.org
12