THE RESTORATION OF THE SABBATH.
By R. F. C.
Prophecy foretold the casting down of the truth, the change, the mutilation of the law of God, the robbing it of its seal; which has been done by the Roman apostasy. It was also foreshown that this wicked power would substitute the mark of its authority in the place of the seal of God, which it has accordingly done, and that a strong effort will yet be made to compel all to receive this mark, under the severest penalties. Rev. 13:11-18. But the truth will not be left without vindication to the end of time. God prepared a message in prophecy, to be fulfilled by actual proclamation as the closing message of probation, forbidding the worship of the beast and his image, and the reception of his mark, under the penalty of the wrath of God without mixture, even the seven last plagues. This message will arouse the true and loyal, and restore to them “the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” This is the closing work of God, the finishing of the work of the Reformation, as the next event is the coming of the Son of man (verse 14), to reap the harvest of the earth. These commandments include the down-trodden Sabbath of the Lord. Isaiah 8:16 points to the restoration of the Sabbath of the law in these words: “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” This prophecy must necessarily have its fulfillment after the papacy has done its work of changing the law, tearing off its seal; for before that no breach in the testimony existed to be bound up and healed; the law had not been robbed of its seal, and therefore needed no sealing. God did not write a law at Sinai without a seal. His name and title of authority were signed at the bottom of the first table, that enjoining our duty especially to him, as our Creator. The breach and its restoration are alluded to in Isa. 58:12, 13: “And thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable,” etc. The people addressed in this prophecy have the Sabbath under foot, doing their pleasure on the Lord’s holy day. Now, if they will change their course, take their feet off the Sabbath, and honor God by its observance, as he has commanded, he will fulfill to them the most gracious promises, giving them a part in the glorious inheritance of his people. In the opening of this chapter it is said, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily,” etc. This language is full of meaning. At the time when it is applicable the people of God are guilty of one particular transgression, besides various other sins. This transgression must be shown them; for many of them are ignorant of it. They are seeking God daily, “as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance [singular number], of their God.” They must be aroused; therefore it is said, “Cry aloud.” This is the work of the last message, which says, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image,” etc. As the effect of this proclamation the remnant of God’s people are manifested keeping his commandments,—all of them; and this includes the long-neglected Sabbath. On this account Satan will wage his last war upon them: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17. Isaiah 56 is very plain in regard to a Sabbath reform in the last days: “Thus saith the Lord, keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.” This locates the application of the prophecy in the last days; for the elect of God are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Pet. 1:5. It is the second coming of Christ that brings this salvation, as we read in45Heb. 9:28: “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Now when Christ is about to come and bring this everlasting salvation with him, and the righteous judgments of God are about to be revealed in the seven last plagues, it is said, “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.” On the supposition that the Sabbath was made for the Jews alone, the text should read, “Blessed is the Jew that doeth this, and the son of a Jew that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it.” But the promised blessing has a wider range. It includes all that can claim to be called man. The language clearly implies a Sabbath reform—a laying hold of the Sabbath by those who have not been keeping it. We cannot lay hold of that which we already hold firmly in our hands; therefore the text refers to those who have not previously been keeping the Sabbath, but at this time begin its observance, as we see it being done at the present day. The text goes on to particularize the sons of the stranger, those who have not been accounted the people of God, the Gentiles, promising them, on condition of keeping the Sabbath and laying hold on his covenant, “an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” The fulfillment of prophecy is its confirmation. The breach in the law is being repaired by the restoration of the Sabbath. Thousands in various parts all over the earth are heeding the warning of the last message, turning from the commandments of men to the commandments of God. The word of God is being confirmed. Those who have little or no faith in that word look on “with brute unconscious gaze,” while those who believe are moving in the direction of the light so clearly shining from the precious Bible. They recognize the hand of God fulfilling his word, and rejoice for the consolation. They know by the fulfillment of his promises that the God of the Bible is the living God, that he lives to-day, and is not a God who once lived and is now dead, as many seem to suppose, from their lack of faith in present truth. Reader, do you believe the Bible to be a revelation from God? Arouse! and see what God is doing in its confirmation at the present day. The prophecies of the last days are rapidly being fulfilled. Soon the great work of salvation for our race will be completed. Let us share in the work, before it is too late, and then in the great reward soon to be given. R. F. C.