The Issue in the Last Days
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In this Lesson, we have looked at the Sabbath, from (4) different points, here is a review:
1. What does the Sabbath mean to God?
The Sabbath is His [God’s] memorial of creation. After He had finished creating the world, He rested from His work, and He sanctified and blessed the day on which He rested, giving it to man as a day of rest. It is to be a sign between Him and His people forever.[1]
All through the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, we find the Sabbath belongs to God and not man, not even to the Jews. Yes, it was made for man but it does not belong to him. That is why Israel was instructed by God: “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep…” (Exodus 31:13).[2]
2. What does the Sabbath mean to Man?
The universal sin problem has inflicted mankind with guilt and shame, causing so much distress and restlessness. It is for this reason Christ gave this invitation to the discouraged Jews of His day: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This invitation is offered today to everyone through the gospel message.[2] On a more personal issue, which deals with each of us personally:
Perhaps one of the reasons why Jesus portrayed the last church age of Laodicea as existing in such a lukewarm condition is because we have allowed convenient traditions to replace the plain testimony of God’s word. We must decide whether to follow that which has been substituted by man or to follow Jesus, even though to follow Him might cause us to loose popularity with some of our family or friends. We must allow ourselves to be constantly reminded of the words of Peter, “….we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29); and of Paul, “….do I seek to please men? For if I pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal 1:10).[3]
Jesus is our perfect example and fully capable of leading us into a complete relationship with the Heavenly Father. But it is not enough just to know this in the mind; it must become a conviction of the heart strong enough to cause us to practice what Christ practiced even though it may not be the custom and practice of the majority of the world or the Christian church.[4]
3. What did the Sabbath mean to the Apostles?
The seventh-day Sabbath was a refreshing value and virtue in the lives of the apostles. It was a complete day when they could worship and commune with God; a complete day when they could lay all their cares in the hands of Jesus, their Great High Priest; a complete day when they could relax in God’s Grace and experience the infusion of His rest and refreshment; a complete day when they could be recharged with energy from Heaven to face the opportunities and obstacles of the next week.[5]
To admit I had been wrong for so many years about such an important area of Bible Truth as which day is the Lord’s Day was difficult to admit. When my wife and I took our stand for what the Bible has to say on this subject it caused some of our family and friends to frown and even cast harsh words in our direction. But more and more we are learning and being reminded, just as the apostles learned and were reminded, that Jesus is the one we must please.[5]
4. What does the Sabbath mean in regards to the redemption of the human race?
After the Fall, the Sabbath was given a redemptive significance. It was made a covenant sign that God would step into our shoes in the person of Christ and make us holy and blameless in Him (see Ephesians 1:4).[2]
Entering God's rest is linked with believing the gospel. This is because Jesus, who is Lord of the Sabbath, is also the source of our redemption. As Adam and Eve entered God's rest at creation, so also we must by faith enter the gospel rest obtained for us in Christ’s perfect redemption.[2]
5. What does the Sabbath mean in the relationship to the Great Controversy between Christ and satan?
We can learn a lesson for the future from the past. After the children of Israel had been held captive by the Egyptians for many years, the time arrived for God to fulfill His promise to deliver them from bondage. Sending Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh with the message, “Let my people go”.…[but] with the response of this haughty earthly official: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?”[6] (Exod 5:1-2)
In the ten plagues that fell on Egypt just before God’s people were delivered, God answered Pharaoh’s question in a graphic way. In the final chilling plague, all the firstborn in Egypt were slain, beginning with the Pharaoh’s family. With an aching heart, Pharaoh learned to take the warnings of God seriously. But what was happening to the children of Israel during this time of great suffering and turmoil throughout the land?[6]
On the fourteenth day of the first month, the Israelites were to slaughter a lamb and sprinkle its blood on the doorposts of their houses. Such a sign was not done lightly. It clearly differentiated between those willing to trust the God of Israel and those who were either hesitant or afraid to declare themselves, fearing Egyptian reprisals. It was a night of testing for Israel.…[6]
Just as God had warned, at midnight the destroying angel passed through the land, visiting death upon the homes of all those without God’s identifying mark “the blood on the doorpost” and sparing those families who had declared their loyalty to the God of Israel, regardless of the consequences.[6] Just so in earth’s last hours, the final plagues will fall on those who have rejected or neglected God’s deliverance.…By our lives we are choosing today which side we will be on.…When the destroying angels begin their work, it will be too late to change sides! Probation’s door will have already closed forever.[6]
The issue in the last days: The Sabbath is linked with salvation in Christ. Breaking the Sabbath will be synonymous with deliberately rejecting Jesus Christ.[7]
….And it is also possible to keep the Sabbath and to still be lost, by rejecting the Lord of the Sabbath. We need to understand the connection of the Sabbath with the gospel.[7]
Matt 10 (v. 32) Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. (v. 33) But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Hence the order of the last days events: (1) The Shaking Time, (2) The National Sunday Law, (3) The “Loud Cry” message, (4) The devil counterfeits Christ on earth, (5) The Sealing of God’s people, (6) The Close of Probation, (7) The Seven Last Plagues, (8) God’s people delivered.
Unbelief is the deliberate rejection of the gift of God.[7] We are now in the shaking time!!
I am a “Sabbath-keeping” Christian because I discovered from history that the seventh-day Sabbath was kept after the final “Amen” of the Bible was penned, even though it meant persecution at the hands of “fellow” Christians.[8]
And also, I am a “Sabbath-keeping” Christian because I discovered from history that keeping the seventh-day Sabbath makes the devil angry and I just accept that anything that makes the devil mad must surely cause Jesus to be glad.[8]
6. Believe it or not, what is to be expected in the future prophecy, concerning the Sabbath day!
In these times of special interest, the guardians of the flock of God should teach the people that the spiritual powers are in controversy.[9] It is not human beings that are creating such intensity of feeling as now exists in the religious world.
Rev 13 (v. 7) And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue and nation.
Satan's masterly efforts are now put forth to gather in every principle and every power that he can employ to controvert the....Law of Jehovah, especially the fourth commandment, that defines who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth.[9]
Dan 7 (v. 25) He shall speak pompous words against the Most High....And shall intend to change times and laws.
The object of the masterly working of the great deceiver has been to supersede God. In his efforts to change times and laws, he has been working to maintain a power in opposition to God, and above him.[9]
Here is the great issue. Here are the two great powers confronting each other,--the Prince of God, Jesus Christ; and the prince of darkness, Satan.[9] Here comes the open conflict. There are but two classes in the world, and every human being will range under one of these two banners,--the banner of the prince of darkness, or the banner of Jesus Christ.[9]
7. The two great deceptions that the devil has planned for the whole wide-world!! See the videos below, from somebody who used to serve the devil’s kingdom and has now made it out because of Jesus Christ.
The first video is about keeping Sunday holy. video ref. [10]
Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of Spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. Protestantism will yet stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; she will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, our country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.[11]
The second video is about the Immortality of the Soul. video ref. [12]
References:
1. E.G. White, The Review and Herald. (25 Jun 1901), par.12
2. Savior of the world Bible Course, (2000), Lesson 15, “Entering God’s Rest.”
3. Dan Jarrard, (2008). Why I am a Sabbath-keeping Christian, p.30-31
4. Dan Jarrard, (2008). Why I am a Sabbath-keeping Christian, p.24
5. Dan Jarrard, (2008). Why I am a Sabbath-keeping Christian, p.44
6. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion’s Gates, p.306-307, Hart Research Center.
7. Vineyard Ministries. "Christ, the True Sabbath Rest (part 1)" Tape 4A. Hebrews, Audiocassette.
8. Dan Jarrard, (2008). Why I am a Sabbath-keeping Christian, p.59
9. E.G. White, The General Conference Bulletin. (4 Mar 1895), p.445, par.1-3
10. Roger Morneau “Sunday church is satan worship” Online video. YouTube, 10 Nov 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzXQwjd6EdI
11. E.G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy (vol.4) “The coming conflict” p.405, par.1
12. Roger Morneau “Belief in Immortality of the Soul is Demonic Necromancy” Online video. YouTube, 8 May 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IjhNPFphmE
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