Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 29, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 42.

Our Bible Reading

Reform on the Sabbath

1. What is said of the church that will be in existence at the time of the second coming of Christ?

"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.

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14: 12.

NOTE.—These texts bring to view a class of people right at the last of earth's history who not only have the faith of Jesus, but keep the commandments of God.

2. What does one of the commandments of God specifically require?

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex. 20: 8-11.

NOTE.—In our Bible reading last week, texts were quoted which show that the prophecies pointed forward to a power that would undertake to change God's times and laws. God's law to-day, as through all the ages, says that the seventh day, which is Saturday, is the Sabbath; yet the great mass of mankind are observing the first day instead. But as the remnant church, that are to witness the second coming of Christ, are to be found keeping "the commandments of God," they must be Sabbath-keepers, because nobody can be said to be keeping the commandments of God who is openly trampling underfoot the Sabbath commandment.

3. Are there any prophecies which specifically forecast a Sabbath reform?

"Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. 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." Isa. 56: 1, 2.

"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; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words." Isa. 58: 13.

NOTE.—The verses quoted from Isaiah 56 bring to view a time when God's salvation is near to come, and His righteousness to be revealed. And at that time the promised blessing is held out to the individual who "layeth hold on" God's Sabbath to keep it. In like manner the expression "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath" brings to view a class of people who are trampling the Sabbath underfoot. The Lord is manifestly calling for a Sabbath reform, and is holding forth special blessings to those who will face the popular sentiment to the contrary, and observe His sacred day.