5. That those who keep the seventh day of the week bear "the seal of God.” 6. That the Catholic church is respon sib le for the "change” in the day of worship. 7. That only the 144,000 (Adventists)—will be saved because they are sabbath-keepers. (This may not apply now since the denomination has grown to such proportions, but they will come up with an explanation for this mistake.) 8. That there are only two classes on earth— not saved and unsaved as we believe—but those who keep the sabbath of the Jews, and those who do not! Here are some quotations from their authorities on the subject: ". . . While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers (keeping the first day of the week instead of the seventh) receive the mark o f the beast, the other, choosing the token o f allegiance to divine author ity (keeping the seventh day) receive the seal of God” ( The Great Controversy, by Mrs. Ellen G. White). "The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial o f creation . . . The mark of the beast is the opposite of this,-—- the observ ance of the first day of the week” ( Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 117). "We understand that the religious world will be divided into just two classes, those who keep the sabbath and those who oppose it” (Uriah Smith, Bibli cal Institute, p. 240): "They (the 144,000 sabbath-keepers) will be a special body-guard of the Lamb” ; and then Mrs. White claims the angel said to her in another of her visions: "If you are faithful, you, with the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing all the handiworks of God” (p. 22, History o f the Sabbath'). I n the first place, it may surprise you to realize that with all of this talk o f "sabbath keeping,” the Adven tists do not keep it at all as the Jews were commanded to do. To be consistent with their claim that they are re storing the Jewish sabbath, think what a change would have to be made in their lives. It was kept from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32); if a burden was carried within 24 hours (Jer. 17:21); a fire kindled (Ex. 35:3) or any cooking done (Ex. 16:23)— the penalty was death (Num. 15:36). If God were dealing with them as He did with the Jewish people in this matter, there would not be an Adventist left on earth! The same applies to the dietary laws, which once the Adventists tried to adhere to. Furthermore, if they are going to restore the old ceremonial law of the Jews, why do they not offer sacrifices ? In the second place, the sabbath was never changed to the first day of the week! The sabbath passed away with the whole Mosaic law. The Christian has no sabbath at all. He is never commanded to keep one. He celebrates the resurrection of his Lord on the first day of the week by making it a special day of worship. But it is no day of rest for the Christian; ministers and all Christian workers are busiest about the Father’s affairs on that day. In the third place, all that nonsense about the Roman Catholic church’s responsibility for this "pagan day of worship,” as the Adventists call it, has no point at all. True, the Catholics do worship on Sunday, but long before there was a papacy, the early Christians were meeting on the first day of the week. As someone has well stated: "It is a day o f thanksgiving (that is, the first day o f the week) and liberty to the Christians, and a day which they delight in regarding as unto the Lord (Rom. 16:6). It is the Lord’s Day, as John
Seventh-day Adventism continued This double-dealing with words, twisting their meaning to prove their point, is practiced by all false religions. They would not get anywhere if they took words in their self- evident sense. The amazing thing is that they find so many people who are willing to be thus duped. It is not strange either, in view of Second Corinthians 4:3, 4: "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” In Romans 2:6 we are told that God "will render to every man according to his deeds” and in Revelation 20:13 that the wicked are "judged every man according to their works.” If the finally impenitent are annihilated they are all punished alike. In the second place, the Bible speaks of "the wrath o f God abiding” upon the wicked (John 3:36). In Matthew 25:46 we read that "these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal,” the same Greek word for everlasting being used in both cases, making it clear that the punishment of the finally impenitent is just as everlasting as is the reward of the saved. It is just the judgment of man that eternal punishment is unreasonable and unjust. We are finite; God is infinite. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:- 25). No man will be lost except by his own choice. To go to hell he must by-pass the cross of Calvary— the greatest exhibition of love this world has ever known. Seventh-day Adventism and the Jewish Sabbath B y intention, I have left this peculiar, "pet” doc trine of the Adventists for a very brief discussion at the end o f this message for three reasons: 1.) This is the delusion of this sect with which the entire church is best acquainted. 2.) A thorough treatment o f this subject would require an entire book. 3.) There are many volumes of various lengths obtainable which are excellent. I have already recommended E. B. Jones’ works on Adventism. I have also used a 22-page booklet by evange list John R. Rice entitled, "Sunday or Sabbath — Which Should Christians Observe?” which can be secured for 10c or $1 for 15 at the Sword of the Lord, Wheaton, 111. The emphasis upon the seventh day, or the Jewish sab bath, like so many Adventist teachings, actually originated in one o f Mrs. White’s many "visions.” She claims to have seen the sanctuary in heaven, the temple into which Jesus went, according to their teaching. She said she saw its contents, and then adds, "Two angels stood at either end of the ark, with their wings spread over the mercy seat, and their faces turned toward it. Jesus raised the cover of the ark,” and then she goes on to relate that she beheld the tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were written. She was amazed as she saw "the Fourth Command ment” in the very center of the ten precepts “ with a soft halo of light encircling it.” Briefly, this is their teaching in regard to the seventh day: 1. That they are called to restore sabbath worship. 2. That those who fail to observe the seventh day are lost. 3. That Sunday, or the first day of the week, is dedicated to sun worship. 4. That those who keep the first day of the week carry "the mark o f the beast.”
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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