ADVENTIST

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The Lord’s Sabbaths
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 Introduction Were the Lord’s Sabbaths kept after the Cross?

The closing words of Malachi are a prophecy regarding the work that should be 6. Did the apostles and early Jewish and Gentile Christians keep the Lord’s Sab-
baths after the Cross?
done preparatory to the first and the second advent of Christ. This prophecy is
introduced with the admonition, "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant,
A. 7th day Sabbath – Acts 13:42, 44, Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4, Hebrews 4:4, 9-11
which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judg-
ments. {SW, March 21, 1905 par. 1})
B. Annual Sabbaths – Luke 24:49, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 15:2 (Story of Redemption page
304-305), Act 18:21 (Acts of the Apostles page 269), Acts 20:6 (Acts of the Apos-
Nothing frightens me more than to see the spirit of variance manifested by our
tles page 389), Acts 20:16, 1 Cor 5:7,8, 1 Cor 16:8 (Acts of the Apostles 291)
brethren. We are on dangerous ground when we cannot meet together like
Christians, and courteously examine controverted points. I feel like fleeing from
Shocking Truth: Paul did not bind himself nor his converts to the ceremonies and
the place lest I receive the mold of those who cannot candidly investigate the
customs of the Jews, with their varied forms, types, and sacrifices; for he recog-
doctrines of the Bible. Those who cannot impartially examine the evidences of a
nized that the perfect and final offering had been made in the death of the Son of
position that differs from theirs, are not fit to teach in any department of God's
God. {3SP 411}
cause. {RH, February 18, 1890 par. 13})
Paul kept the Feast Days but not the ceremonies and sacrifices.
We must not for a moment think that there is no more light, no more truth, to
be given us. We are in danger of becoming careless, by our indifference losing
Shocking Truth: At these yearly assemblies the hearts of old and young would be
the sanctifying power of truth, and composing ourselves with the thought, "I
encouraged in the service of God, while the association of the people from the
am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." [REV. 3:17.]
different quarters of the land would strengthen the ties that bound them to God
While we must hold fast to the truths which we have already received, we must
and to one another. Well would it be for the people of God at the present time to
not look with suspicion upon any new light that God may send. {GW 310}
have a Feast of Tabernacles--a joyous commemoration of the blessings of God to
them. As the children of Israel celebrated the deliverance that God had wrought
The student of the Bible should be taught to approach it in the spirit of a
for their fathers, and His miraculous preservation of them during their journeyings
learner. We are to search its pages, not for proof to sustain our opinions, but in
from Egypt, so should we gratefully call to mind the various ways He has devised
order to know what God says. [Ed 189].
for bringing us out from the world, and from the darkness of error, into the pre-
cious light of His grace and truth. {PP 540.6}

Shocking Truth: “To the law* and to the testimony: if they speak not according to
this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20, Mathew 5:17-20). (*
Law: Strong’s Hebrew word #8451—Torah including statutes, judgments and
commandments.)

Awesome Texts: PP Chap 52 (The Annual Feasts), 2T Chap 69 (Convocations) and

MH Chap 21 (Hygiene Among the Israelites—Rejoicing)

***All Bible quotes in this Bible Study are from the King James Version (KJV).

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 Did Jesus keep all of the Lord’s Sabbaths?
4. Since Jesus is our example in all things, we need to ask did He keep the Lord’s
Sabbaths?
A. 7th day Sabbath examples – Mark 1:21, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:16, Luke 4:31, Luke
13:10, etc.
B. Annual Sabbaths examples – Tabernacles - John 7:37, Passover - Luke 2:41-
42, John 2:23, John 7:8, 14
5. Did Jesus observe the ceremonial system of worship and sacrifices?
A. Although Jesus was a Jew He did not have to offer sacrifices nor offerings
because he had no sin.
1. Christ passed through all the experiences of His childhood, youth,
and manhood without the observance of ceremonial temple worship. {BEcho,
October 31, 1898 par. 7}
B. Are the Lord’s Sabbaths a part of the ceremonial system of worship or a part
of the moral law?
1. Jesus never observed the ceremonial system of worship but he did
in fact keep the Lord’s Sabbaths. So Jesus as our example did not observe the
ceremonial temple worship. The Lord’s Sabbaths by His example are not a part
of the ceremonial system of worship just because they were performed on the
Lord’s Sabbaths. The Lord’s Sabbaths are a part of the moral law and are to be a
time of rejoicing not something that is against us needing to be taken out of the
way. (MH Chap 20).
Shocking truth: Sacrifices were performed on the 7th day Sabbath but it was not
abolished nor were the annual Sabbaths abolished by the apostles and early
church because the ceremonies and sacrifices where done away with. See
Shock & Awe Bible Study #3 – Mark of the Beast to see who in history abolished
the Sabbaths of the Lord. (Numbers 28:9,10)
Shocking Truth: In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was
repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts
which were to govern everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to
guard the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away
with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon men in every age as
long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the
moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law. {RH, May 6, 1875
par. 10}{1BC 1104.6}
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The Lord’s Sabbaths
1. What are the Sabbaths of the Lord?
The Sabbaths of the Lord are to be a day of rest (no work), holy convocation
(gathering), Feasts of the Lord. (Lev 23:2)
A. Weekly Sabbath – 7th day of the week - Saturday, 4th Commandment, there
are 52 a year. Strong’s #4521 Greek/#7676 Hebrew (Exo 20: 8-11, Lev 23:3)
B. Annual Sabbaths – 7 days a year, Passover/Unleaven Bread (2), Pentecost,
Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles (2), Statutes/Judgements, Strong’s #1859
Greek/ 4150 Hebrew. (Exo 23:14-16, Lev 23:4-44)
C. Sabbath Year – Every 7th year, Land to lay dormant, the 6th year crops will
yield 3 times normal amount. (Lev 25:4)
Shocking Truth: We are to become familiar with the Levitical law in all its
bearings; for it contains rules that must be obeyed; it contains the instruction
that if studied will enable us to understand better the rule of faith and practice
that we are to follow in our dealings with one another. No soul has any excuse
for being in darkness. Those who receive Christ by faith will receive also power
to become the sons of God (Letter 3, 1905). {1BC 1110.4}
Shocking Truth: Precepts Given to Guard Decalogue.--In consequence of
continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from
Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern everyday
life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They
were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be
binding upon men in every age as long as time should last. These commands
were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely
explained that law {RH, May 6, 1875 par. 10}{1BC 1104.6})
Shocking Truth: The 7th day Sabbath is a Feast Day. If you nail the Feast days to
the cross you nail the 7th day Sabbath to the cross. (Lev 23:2,3)
Awesome Texts: Deut 16:10-13, Deut 5:1, Deut 6:1, Deut 8:11, 1 Kings 2:3, 1
Kings 6:12, 1 Kings 8:58
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 Nailed to the Cross? Weekly or Annual Sabbath?

2. Weren’t the Lord’s Sabbaths nailed to the Cross? (Col 2:14-

2:14-17) 3. Doesn’t “Sabbath days” in Col 2:16 refer to the 7 annual Sabbaths?
A. In Col 2:14 Paul says that “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that A. Sabbath days — note that the word days is italicized and was added during
was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it
translation.
to his cross;” .
1. Strong’s Greek word #4521 is defined as the weekly Sabbath and
1. God’s Law is perfect, righteous and a great reward - Statutes, Judg-
never refers to the annual Sabbath. (Matt 12:8, Matt12:12, Mark 2:27, Luke 6:9,
ments and Commandments are not against us but are to be a delight (Ps 19:7-
Acts 17:2, etc.)
11).
2. The ordinances that were against us were punishments for trans-
B. Holy Day also found in Col 2:16.
gressing God’s law. The transgression of the law is sin (1 John 3:4). The wages
1. In every instance that the Strong’s Greek word #1859 is used it al-
of sin are death (Romans 6:23). The ceremonies, sacrifices and oblations were
ways refers to the annual Sabbaths or feast days. (Luke 22:1, John 7:8, John
added because of sin and nailed to the cross because Jesus is the final sacrifice
7:37, John 12:12, Acts 18:21, etc.)
(Dan 9:27, Heb 9:28, Heb 10:10-12). No where are the Lord’s Sabbaths men-
tioned as being done away.
C. Was Paul needlessly repeating himself?
3. Sacred Obligation of the Sabbath and Feast days … all for the Good
1. If Sabbath days was referring to the annual Sabbaths Paul would be
of Israel. (PP 311-312) The weekly and annual Sabbaths are not against us but
needlessly repeating himself in the same sentence “ annual Sabbaths, new
are good for us.
Moons and annual Sabbaths”. This is neither logical nor consistent with the
Greek Lexicon.
B. In Col 2:16-
2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in re-
spect of an holyday (Strongs #1859), or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath D. It was common to group the 3 divisions of time together annual Sabbaths
days (Strongs#4521): Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of (feasts), new Moons and weekly Sabbath. (1 Chron 23:31, 2 Chron 2:4, Eze
Christ.
45:17, Hosea 2:11)
1. We need to consider this in context Paul just said in Col 2:13 “And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
Shocking Truth: The minds of the people, blinded and debased by slavery and
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” We have
heathenism, were not prepared to appreciate fully the far-reaching principles of
been forgiven of our sins and trespasses let no man therefore judge you but the
God's ten precepts. That the obligations of the Decalogue might be more fully
body of Christ which is the true church according to the righteous standard
understood and enforced, additional precepts were given, illustrating and ap-
which is the Word of God, not the traditions of man (Col 2:8, 22).
plying the principles of the Ten Commandments. These laws were called judg-
2. Jesus did not come to abolish the law, which is righteous and Holy,
ments, both because they were framed in infinite wisdom and equity and be-
but to blot out the transgression of the law which is our sin.
cause the magistrates were to give judgment according to them. Unlike the Ten
A. If you owe a debt to a credit card company and someone
Commandments, they were delivered privately to Moses, who was to communi-
pays your debt for you is the credit card company abolished or the debt blotted
cate them to the people. {PP 310.1})
out from your account?
B. If you get a speeding ticket and someone pays your fine
does that abolish the law? Or your debt?

Shocking Truth: I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sab-
bath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And at the commencement of
the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and
proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. This enraged the churches and nominal
Adventists, as they could not refute the Sabbath truth. And at this time God's
chosen all saw clearly that we had the truth, and they came out and endured
the persecution with us. {EW 33})

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