Babylon - Then and Now-11 quotes

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BABYLON -- THEN and NOW, part 11 quotes

1) The Third Angel's Message...continued

What happened to the Jews when they failed to accept Christ and His righteousness?

“As the Jews departed from God, and failed to make the righteousness of Christ their own by faith, the Sabbath lost its significance to them.” Desire of Ages, p 283.

2) The last great testing truth of the Third Angel’s message is: the Seventh-day or Saturday is the only Lord’s day of worship as the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2-3; Revelation 1:10; Testimonies, vol 6, p 128); it is a special holy day of rest in which we are to cease from all secular labor, from all business and worldly affairs, and devote this 24 hour day to God (Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:13-14; Nehemiah 13:15-22); that it is the sign or seal of God (Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Exodus 31:13-17), and that there is no biblical truth supporting a change to Sunday as the Lord’s day (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Hebrews 4:3-11; Ezekiel 20:12-20; 1 Chronicles 17:27). This means that we must keep the Sabbath holy in obedience to God if we want to make it to heaven (Early Writings, p 37; Desire of Ages, p 206; Testimonies, vol 8, p 196-198; Great Controversy, p 455; Testimonies, vol 6, p 349; Prophets and Kings, p 182; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 949; Testimonies, vol 3, p 392; Evangelism, p 290; Testimonies, vol 1, p 532; vol 2, p 705; Life Sketches, p 117-118), because the Sabbath will be the great test and dividing line between those who follow God and are saved, versus those who follow Satan and are lost (Revelation 13:17-18; Testimonies, vol 1, p 353-354; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 983).

3) What does the SDA church teach today about the truth that the seventh-day or Saturday is the Lord’s only day of worship as His Sabbath?

"While the Sabbath commandment has a distinct practical value, the specific day, in and of itself, doesn’t. Thus...keeping any other day could ‘work’..." A Pause For Peace: What God’s Gift of the Sabbath Can Mean for You, p 114, by Clifford Goldstein, published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association in 1992.

"God is glad for us to go to church both days [Saturday and Sunday]. He wants us to worship Him both days....Anybody who takes a whole day out of every week to spend with God will have more of God’s power in his life, and God can do more through him and in him." Signs of the Times, March, 1990, p 22-23.

4) What does the SDA church teach today about the truth of the Sabbath being a day of rest from our secular labors, business and worldly affairs, etc?

"The truth about God’s day of rest and the truth about rest from our own efforts to overcome [sin] are closely related....

"But I invite you today to enter into God’s rest, to cease from your own works in trying to obey and overcome and be victorious." To Know God, p 100, by Morris L. Venden, Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1983.

"...despite our unfinished characters we stand complete in Christ. His accomplishment at Calvary counts as our atonement. We enter His [Sabbath] rest." When God Made Rest, p 21 by George Vandeman, published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association in 1987.

"We can be delivered from the slavery of sin and grow in grace only by resting from our own works [of obeying God’s law] and entering His [Sabbath] rest." We Still Believe: after 150 years of waiting, watching, and hoping, p 62-63, by General Conference president--Robert S. Folkenberg, published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association in 1994.

5) What does the SDA church believe today about the seventh-day Sabbath is the only sign or seal of the living God?

"...the Sabbath is the seal of our love and allegiance to a loving heavenly Father." Adventist Review, May 5, 1994, p 18.

"...salvation by faith versus salvation by works...The book of Revelation describes this conflict in terms of the seal of God versus the mark of the beast: [Revelation 14:9-12 quoted]...the Sabbath...as a sign of God’s completed work in us for salvation." We Still Believe, p 65-67.

6) What does the SDA church teach today about the truth that there is no Biblical support whatsoever for the claim that the Sabbath has been changed, or that Sunday is the Lord’s day?

"What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe? Hear pastor/evangelist Jere Webb present a fresh look at ‘The Truth.’ Subjects include...‘Christ centered reasons for Sunday worship’..." Pacific Union Recorder, June 4, 1990, p 27.

"All busy people yearn for a day of rest. God Himself gave His permission, a command even, for a day to allow the soul and spirit to be refreshed. This is God’s gift to us. He will take care of us physically and spiritually if we follow His plan. Our systems need the replenishment. Sunday is a special day for this worship and refreshment....

"Thoreau said, if you want to destroy the Christian faith, first take away Sunday. He was right; it’s a holy day, for those who know Jesus Christ as Saviour it cannot be a holiday. For those of you who have gathered around the cross and have been saved and washed clean by His blood, it is a sacrilege to do anything else on that day except to celebrate what God has done.

"If we abuse Sunday, we’re going to destroy something beautiful that God has given. No Sunday means no church; no church means no worship; no worship means no religion; no religion means no morality; no morality means no society; no society means no government; no government means anarchy. That s the choice before us." Confessions of a Nomad: What We Learned in Sinai’s Shadow, page 86 and 120, by Carolyn and William Self, copyrighted by the SDA Ministerial Association and published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1998.

7) What does the SDA church believe today about the truth that God’s people must keep the Sabbath if they want to make it to heaven?

"Seventh-day Adventists do not rely upon their Sabbathkeeping as a means of salvation or of winning merit before God. We are saved by grace alone." Questions on Doctrines, p 153, by Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1957..

"If we consider Sabbath keeping a requirement for salvation, we have turned the commandment on its head. We are not entering into God’s rest at all. Rather, we are depending on ourselves and our works." We Still Believe, p 64.

"If you don’t worship on the Sabbath, are you going to hell? No!" SDA Evangelist Kenneth Cox representing the SDA church on "Central Florida Live" TV talk show, hosted by George Crossley, Central Florida TV station WTGL, channel 52, February 8, 1993.

8) What does the SDA church teach today about the truth of the Sabbath being the great test and dividing line between the followers of God who are saved, versus the followers of Lucifer who are lost?

"If the question [of God’s true Sabbath] is merely a matter of choice between two days, it hardly seems significant enough to become the dividing line between the saved and the lost at the end of time...Just to be able to prove from the Bible that we are right doesn’t seem a point important enough to die for....

"So in the end time, the real issue will not be Saturday versus Sunday. It will be salvation by faith versus salvation by works." We Still Believe, p 65.

But God's inspired word plainly declares just the opposite to what the SDA church teaches!

"In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be united, in opposition to God’s people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In this warfare the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will be the great point at issue; for in the Sabbath commandment the great Lawgiver identifies Himself as the Creator of the heavens and the earth." SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 983.

"The decree will go forth that they [God’s commandment-keeping people] must disregard the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and honor the first day, or lose their lives; but they will not yield, and trample under their feet the Sabbath of the Lord, and honor an institution of [the] papacy." Testimonies, vol 1, p 353-354.

“Be sure the Sabbath is a test question, and how you treat this question, places you either on God's side or Satan's side.” 1888 Materials, p 477.

“All will be judged according to the light that has shone upon them. If they have light upon the Sabbath, they cannot be saved in rejecting that light.” Historical Sketches, p 234.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries home \| Sermon Quotes BABYLON -- THEN and NOW, part 11 quotes 1) The Third Angel's Message...continued What happened to the Jews when they failed to accept Christ and His righteousness? “As the Jews departed from God, and failed to make the righteousness of Christ their own by faith, the Sabbath lost its significance to them.” Desire of Ages, p 283. 2) The last great testing truth of the Third Angel’s message is: the Seventh-day or Saturday is the only Lord’s day of worship as the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2-3; Revelation 1:10; Testimonies, vol 6, p 128); it is a special holy day of rest in which we are to cease from all secular labor, from all business and worldly affairs, and devote this 24 hour day to God (Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:13-14; Nehemiah 13:15-22); that it is the sign or seal of God (Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Exodus 31:13-17), and that there is no biblical truth supporting a change to Sunday as the Lord’s day (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Hebrews 4:3-11; Ezekiel 20:12-20; 1 Chronicles 17:27). This means that we must keep the Sabbath holy in obedience to God if we want to make it to heaven (Early Writings, p 37; Desire of Ages, p 206; Testimonies, vol 8, p 196-198; Great Controversy, p 455; Testimonies, vol 6, p 349; Prophets and Kings, p 182; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 949; Testimonies, vol 3, p 392; Evangelism, p 290; Testimonies, vol 1, p 532; vol 2, p 705; Life Sketches, p 117-118), because the Sabbath will be the great test and dividing line between those who follow God and are saved, versus those who follow Satan and are lost (Revelation 13:17-18; Testimonies, vol 1, p 353-354; Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 983). 3) What does the SDA church teach today about the truth that the seventh-day or Saturday is the Lord’s only day of worship as His Sabbath? "While the Sabbath commandment has a distinct practical value, the specific day, in and of itself, doesn’t. Thus...keeping any other day could ‘work’..." A Pause For Peace: What God’s Gift of the Sabbath Can Mean for You, p 114, by Clifford Goldstein, published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association in 1992. "God is glad for us to go to church both days [Saturday and Sunday]. He wants us to worship Him both days....Anybody who takes a whole day out of every week to spend with God will have more of God’s power in his life, and God can do more through him and in him." Signs of the Times, March, 1990, p 22-23. 4) What does the SDA church teach today about the truth of the Sabbath being a day of rest from our secular labors, business and worldly affairs, etc? "The truth about God’s day of rest and the truth about rest from our own efforts to overcome [sin] are closely related.... "But I invite you today to enter into God’s rest, to cease from your own works in trying to obey and overcome and be victorious." To Know God, p 100, by Morris L. Venden, Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1983. "...despite our unfinished characters we stand complete in Christ. His accomplishment at Calvary counts as our atonement. We enter His [Sabbath] rest." When God Made Rest, p 21 by George Vandeman, published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association in 1987. "We can be delivered from the slavery of sin and grow in grace only by resting from our own works [of obeying God’s law] and entering His [Sabbath] rest." We Still Believe: after 150 years of waiting, watching, and hoping, p 62-63, by General Conference president--Robert S. Folkenberg, published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association in 1994. 5) What does the SDA church believe today about the seventh-day Sabbath is the only sign or seal of the living God? "...the Sabbath is the seal of our love and allegiance to a loving heavenly Father." Adventist Review, May 5, 1994, p 18. "...salvation by faith versus salvation by works...The book of Revelation describes this conflict in terms of the seal of God versus the mark of the beast: [Revelation 14:9-12 quoted]...the Sabbath...as a sign of God’s completed work in us for salvation." We Still Believe, p 65-67. 6) What does the SDA church teach today about the truth that there is no Biblical support whatsoever for the claim that the Sabbath has been changed, or that Sunday is the Lord’s day? "What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe? Hear pastor/evangelist Jere Webb present a fresh look at ‘The Truth.’ Subjects include...‘Christ centered reasons for Sunday worship’..." Pacific Union Recorder, June 4, 1990, p 27. "All busy people yearn for a day of rest. God Himself gave His permission, a command even, for a day to allow the soul and spirit to be refreshed. This is God’s gift to us. He will take care of us physically and spiritually if we follow His plan. Our systems need the replenishment. Sunday is a special day for this worship and refreshment.... "Thoreau said, if you want to destroy the Christian faith, first take away Sunday. He was right; it’s a holy day, for those who know Jesus Christ as Saviour it cannot be a holiday. For those of you who have gathered around the cross and have been saved and washed clean by His blood, it is a sacrilege to do anything else on that day except to celebrate what God has done. "If we abuse Sunday, we’re going to destroy something beautiful that God has given. No Sunday means no church; no church means no worship; no worship means no religion; no religion means no morality; no morality means no society; no society means no government; no government means anarchy. That s the choice before us." Confessions of a Nomad: What We Learned in Sinai’s Shadow, page 86 and 120, by Carolyn and William Self, copyrighted by the SDA Ministerial Association and published by the Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1998. 7) What does the SDA church believe today about the truth that God’s people must keep the Sabbath if they want to make it to heaven? "Seventh-day Adventists do not rely upon their Sabbathkeeping as a means of salvation or of winning merit before God. We are saved by grace alone." Questions on Doctrines, p 153, by Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1957.. "If we consider Sabbath keeping a requirement for salvation, we have turned the commandment on its head. We are not entering into God’s rest at all. Rather, we are depending on ourselves and our works." We Still Believe, p 64. "If you don’t worship on the Sabbath, are you going to hell? No!" SDA Evangelist Kenneth Cox representing the SDA church on "Central Florida Live" TV talk show, hosted by George Crossley, Central Florida TV station WTGL, channel 52, February 8, 1993. 8) What does the SDA church teach today about the truth of the Sabbath being the great test and dividing line between the followers of God who are saved, versus the followers of Lucifer who are lost? "If the question [of God’s true Sabbath] is merely a matter of choice between two days, it hardly seems significant enough to become the dividing line between the saved and the lost at the end of time...Just to be able to prove from the Bible that we are right doesn’t seem a point important enough to die for.... "So in the end time, the real issue will not be Saturday versus Sunday. It will be salvation by faith versus salvation by works." We Still Believe, p 65. But God's inspired word plainly declares just the opposite to what the SDA church teaches! "In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be united, in opposition to God’s people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In this warfare the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will be the great point at issue; for in the Sabbath commandment the great Lawgiver identifies Himself as the Creator of the heavens and the earth." SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 983. "The decree will go forth that they [God’s commandment-keeping people] must disregard the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and honor the first day, or lose their lives; but they will not yield, and trample under their feet the Sabbath of the Lord, and honor an institution of [the] papacy." Testimonies, vol 1, p 353-354. “Be sure the Sabbath is a test question, and how you treat this question, places you either on God's side or Satan's side.” 1888 Materials, p 477. “All will be judged according to the light that has shone upon them. If they have light upon the Sabbath, they cannot be saved in rejecting that light.” Historical Sketches, p 234.