Satan and the Sabbath

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 23, 1905

Satan and the Sabbath

Though the weather was unfavorable, quite a large number attended the services in the Lafayette Theater last evening under the auspices of the Seventh-day Adventists. Evangelist Luther Warren spoke on the topic of the “Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan.” He read as a text 1 John 3:8: “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.” He said in part:—

“Sin originated with Satan, who was a covering cherub around the throne of God. This exalted angel became jealous of Christ, and rose up in rebellion against God. The great controversy, which began in heaven, was waged over the law of God. Satan rose up in rebellion against God’s law, and led in revolt against the government of heaven a large number of the hitherto loyal angels. But the revolution failed, and the great rebel leader and his host were cast out. The controversy begun in heaven was thus transferred to this earth.

“It is needless to argue concerning the personality of the prince of devils. He is a real being, for he is an angel fallen. And the wicked spirits whom he marshals under his banner are real beings also. Through the transgression of God’s law they lost their first estate, their abode in the holy habitation of heaven.”

“In the closing days of the history of this world Satan is to work with special power. It is at the time of the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, that Christ will be revealed in heaven, coming with power and great glory. Great miracles will be wrought through the agency of satanic spirits, to deceive those who are dwelling on the earth. Satan comes down with great power because he knows that he has but a short time. In Revelation 13 is found a remarkable prophecy which gives a prophetic outline of the history of this nation. We read: ‘And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.’ Here in this land of light, the greatest nation of the earth in arts and sciences and Christian enlightenment, is to be the greatest manifestation of satanic power and the deceptive, miracle-working agency of evil spirits. From the bosom of this heavenly code Satan has torn out the Sabbath of the great God,

which was given to man in the beginning as a sign of God’s power, and he has substituted in its place the holiday of all pagan times—Sunday. As the nations departed from God and went into idolatry and sun-worship, they left the Sabbath of Jehovah, and kept instead the first day of the week, the day upon which light was created. Sunday, therefore, stands as a great rival of the Sabbath of the Lord, and a sign of rebellion against his government.”

The subject to be considered at the next meeting, Mr. Warren said, would be “Modern Spiritualism.”

After the address the speaker answered a number of questions which had been handed in. Several male quartet selections were rendered during the services.