p. 8 | Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 22, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 41.

Our Bible Reading

The Change of the Sabbath

1. What is the plain statement of the New Testament in regard to Christ’s changing His Father’s law?

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt. 5: 17, 18.

2. Since the foregoing text shows that God has no design of changing His law, and since the world is observing a sabbath that is contrary to that law, is there no Scriptural evidence that such a change in the Sabbath was foreseen?

"And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Dan. 7: 24, 25.

NOTE.—The power mentioned in the foregoing prophecy will not only speak great words against the Most High and wear out His saints, but this self-same power will even think to change the times and the laws. The only commandment in God’s law that relates to time is the Sabbath commandment. Then we should see from this prophecy that this power would undertake to change God’s Sabbath.

3. What does the apostle Paul say of that power that would attempt to change God’s law?

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there 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.

NOTE.—The only way in which any power could seek to exalt itself above God would be for it to undertake to set aside God’s authority. In what way could that be more effectually done than by attempting to change God’s law, just as the prophet Daniel predicted a power would try to do?

4. Has any great world power arisen that has made the claim to have actually changed God’s law, in harmony with the foregoing prophetic scriptures?

Let the following from the catechism entitled, "The Catholic Christian Instructed," by Dr. Challoner, answer the question:

"Ques. What are the days which the church commands to be kept holy? "Ans. 1st, The Sundays, or the Lord’s day, which we observe by apostolic tradition, instead of the Sabbath. 2dly, The feasts of our Lord’s nativity, or Christmas Day; His circumcision, or New Year’s Day;" etc. "Ques. What warrant have you for keeping the Sunday, preferable to the ancient Sabbath, which was the Saturday? "Ans. We have for it the authority of the Catholic Church, and apostolic tradition. "Ques. Does the Scripture anywhere command the Sunday to be kept for the Sabbath? "Ans. The Scripture commands us to hear the church, . . . and to hold fast the traditions of the apostles, . . . but the Scripture does not in particular mention this change of the Sabbath."

NOTE.—There are many utterances made by Catholic authorities that state, in language similar to the foregoing from Dr. Challoner, that the Catholic Church is responsible for the change of the Sabbath. And the Catholics have been making this claim for centuries. For instance, in his debates with Martin Luther, the much celebrated Dr. Eck said:

"The Scripture teaches: Remember that you keep the Saturday; six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, etc. However, the church has transferred the observance from Saturday to Sunday by virtue of her own power, without Scripture, without doubt under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit."

NOTE 2.—We have, then, the clearest prophetic predictions that a great power would arise and think to change God’s times and laws. And then we have one of the greatest ecclesiastical powers known to history coming forward and boldly and proudly making the claim that she has made the change. And then we find the world at large following her in that change, showing that she has actually accomplished it so far as the majority of men are concerned. The case is a very clear and a very conclusive one. We ought to be able to see where we should take our stand on the Sabbath question.