The Sabbath by E. L. Cardey

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 1, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 13.

The Sabbath

By E. L. Cardey

By E. L. Cardey

III. An Attempt to Change the Sabbath

It is a well-known fact, that the observance of the first day of the week has largely taken the place of the seventh day as a sabbath of rest among professed Christian people. In obtaining the true cause of this change of practise, we are confronted with the questions, Was the change right? Was it of divine or human origin?

Let the reader bear in mind, that from the very beginning of time, and during Israel’s existence as the representatives of God’s work in the world, the seventh-day Sabbath was the weekly memorial of Jehovah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. No wonder then, that Satan should devise a plan to cover up the seventh-day institution with all it stands for, and put in its place a sabbath that could not claim the Creator’s seal of authority in blessing, sanctifying, and resting upon that day.

For ages before the first advent of Christ, Satan was continually hammering at the foundations of the Sabbath institution. Baal worship—the worship of the sun—was predominant throughout heathenism. The Israelites were led to worship Baal during the reign of Ahab, and Elijah said they had “forsaken the commandments of the Lord” in following Baal. The prophets foretold the apparent triumph of sun-worship, and the trampling underfoot of the stronghold of Jehovah’s authority—the Sabbath. Eze. 22: 24-31; Isa. 58: 12, 13.

The Change Foretold

In the seventh chapter of Daniel is recorded a vision the prophet had of the rise and fall of kingdoms. Through it all is seen the working of Satan in opposition to the work of God in man’s behalf; until at last we behold his masterpiece of deception when he shall “think to change times and laws” of the Most High. Dan. 7: 25. According to this prophecy, it would be in the days of the divided condition of the fourth universal kingdom, when this attempt to change the times and laws of the Most High would take place. Rome, the fourth kingdom of Daniel’s prophecy, and the fourth universal kingdom to bear rule over the then known world, was established 168 B.C. Under the iron rule of this mighty empire, the whole world was subjected to its sway, and bound to its chariot wheels. Luke 2: 1. When Rome had reached the zenith of her power, and paganism—demon worship—seemed to be supreme, Jesus Christ appeared and raised high the fallen banner of the worship of the true God. Within three centuries thereafter, paganism had been crumbled in the dust under the mighty advance and influence of Christianity. Constantine was converted in 312 A.D. Shortly after this began the conflicts with the barbarians of the north, which resulted in the final breaking up of Pagan Rome into ten kingdoms, A.D. 351-476. In the meantime, as concerning the truth of God, a strange revolution was taking place.

When, because of the great light that Christianity had flashed upon the world, Satan could no longer hold and enslave the minds of men by the falsehoods and superstitions of paganism, he worked out a bolder plan of deception—that of corrupting Christianity itself.

The sway of paganism having been broken, another power was seen lifting its head in the ancient capital of the world, which was destined to wield the scepter over the nations with greater power than Pagan Rome had ever dreamed of. This power was Papal Rome, or the Papacy. Barry speaks of this power as follows: “Rome is the meeting place of all history; the papal succession, oldest and newest in Europe, filling the space from Caesar and Constantine to this democratic world of the twentieth century, binds all ages into one, and looks out toward a distant future in many continents.” (“The Papal Monarchy,” Story of the Nations series, p. 428.)

By the eye of prophecy, Paul the apostle clearly foresaw this work of Satan when he wrote that there should “come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thess. 2: 3, 4. Herein is seen the master-stroke of Satan; the falling away first, leaving the pure principles of the gospel; the next step he exalts himself—through human instrumentalities—above God, while sitting in the temple of God, claiming to be the minister of Christ.

D’Aubigné in describing this time aptly remarks:

“The semblance of an identical and exterior organization was gradually substituted for that interior and spiritual communion which is the essence of the religion of God. Men forsook the precious perfume of faith, and bowed down before the empty vessel that had contained it. They sought other bonds of union, for faith in the heart no longer connected the members of the church; and they were united by means of bishops, archbishops, popes, miters, canons, and ceremonies. The living church retiring gradually within the lonely sanctuary of a few solitary hearts, an external church was substituted in its place, and all its forms were declared to be of divine appointment.” (“History of the Reformation,” Book 1, pp. 39, 40.)

How could this system of worship, this apostasy, as here described by Paul exalt itself above God? It would likely attempt to destroy the authority of God. And this is just what the prophet Daniel declared it would do—think itself able to change times and laws of the Most High. How artfully Satan works! His attack was made upon the very heart of the law, the fourth commandment which alone designates the true God, and the Creator. In its place he put an institution—the first day observance—that has stood for sun-worship, paganism, and idolatry for thousands of years. Let us notice the history of the first day of

the week, in contrast to the seventh day. Since the very beginning, the seventh day has been the Sabbath of the Lord. On the other hand, the first day of the week has been a day dedicated to the worship of the sun.

“Sunday (the sun’s day) is originally the title of a pagan holiday, which the Christian holiday supplanted, and is the common designation of the day.” (“The Century Dictionary,” Art. “Sabbath.”)

But to return to the prophecy of Daniel 7; not one letter of that prophecy has failed. In history, we behold the rise of Rome, and its breaking up into ten kingdoms. From the ashes of Pagan Rome we see the Papacy arise, sitting as a queen among the nations; declaring herself to be a follower of the meek and lowly Man of Galilee, yet commanding kings to bow at her feet. The self-esteemed protector of the church, yet wearing out the “saints of the Most High.” Claiming to be the depository of the truth of God, yet thinking herself able to change the law of God.

Admissions of the Papacy

The deed is done, the Sabbath has been professedly changed, and the Christian world bows down—ignorantly, largely—in obedience to that change as made by the Papacy. She admits, not only her supposed right to change the law, but says she did change it in respect to the Sabbath. Thus we read: “Q. Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept? A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her;—she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day of the week, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.” (“Doctrinal Catechism,” p. 174.) “Protestants have no Scripture for the measure of their day of rest;—that they abolish the observance of Saturday without warrant of Scripture; that they substitute Sunday in its place without Scriptural authority,—consequently, that for all this they have only traditional authority.” (Id., p. 354.)

Protestant Claims

Protestant historians agree that the change took place some hundreds of years this side of Christ’s death.

“There is no evidence that in the earlier years of Christianity there was any formal observance of Sunday as a day of rest, or any general cessation of labor.” (“Encyclopædia Britannica,” Art. “Sabbath.”)

“The first law, either civil or ecclesiastical, that was made respecting the observance of Sunday as a Christian day of worship, was made by Constantine, emperor of Rome, in 321 A.D. (Id., “Sabbath and Sunday.”)

To sum up, then, we find four potent facts. First, an attempt has been made to change the Sabbath; second, the prophecy of Daniel 7 declares the “little horn”—the Papacy—would do it; third, the Papacy claims she has done it, and fourth, Protestants agree that the Bible does not authorize the change, and admit it is the work of the church on its own authority. What further evidence do we need? can truth be more plain? Reader, let us take heed to what we are building upon. Is your worship founded on the shifting sands of the commandments and traditions of men? “They that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Only he who has built on the rock of truth will be able to pass the demands of the judgment.