FIFTY REASONS FOR SABBATH OBSERVANCE.
By Daniel T. Bourdeau
BY D. T. BOURDEAU.
(Continued.) FORTY-NINTH. We observe it because, according to the sure word of prophecy, before the second coming of Jesus Christ, which numerous striking signs of our times show to be imminent, we must seek righteousness and meekness, and be wholly sanctified to be in a condition to pass through the period of the just, but terrible, wrath of God, the seven last plagues, without an advocate or mediator between God and us, and to be found without spot at the appearing of our Lord. The following are a few of the numerous passages of Scripture which establish this truth: "Gather yourselves together ["examine yourselves," French translation], yea, gather together ["examine yourselves," Idem.], O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." Zeph. 2:1-3. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 5:23. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36. "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Dan. 12:1. "For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion." Isa. 34:8. "And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him." Isa. 59:16. "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God." "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man ["no one," Greek] was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." Rev. 15:1, 8.11When that time shall have come, there will be no one, and consequently no intercessor, in the heavenly temple or sanctuary. Then the work of our Lord as Mediator between God and men will have closed, and there will thereafter be no possibility of being pardoned and sanctified. Then those who are in their sins will have a hunger and thirst after truth that can not be satisfied. "They shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." Amos 8:11, 12. Then many claiming to be Christians will knock at the door of mercy, saying, "Lord, Lord, open unto us;" but He will answer them, "I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity." Luke 13:24-30. Can we be surprised that in view of the fact that we are very near the end of the period of probation and grace, our Lord should insist on the importance of observing all the commandments of God and the faith or Gospel of Jesus Christ, that we may be found entirely sanctified, without spot and in peace, even without sins committed through ignorance, before the day of God's wrath shall be a present reality? Even our sins of ignorance must be canceled. These can not be canceled before they are committed, and when the work of Christ as a priest shall have been accomplished and the blotting out of the sins of God's people shall be in the past, what would we then do with the least stain on our robes of character, and without the possibility of being pardoned?