 |
 |
 |
What is God's final message to mankind? Revelation 14:6-7. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. What is the basis why we worship God? Revelation 4:11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things , and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Who was the active agent in creation? Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Ephesians 3:9. And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ : How do we worship our Creator? Exodus 20:8-11. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy .Six days shalt thou labour, 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 manservant, nor thy maidservant, 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 . When did God sanctify the Sabbath? Genesis 2:1-3. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made ; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made . Note that the Sabbath was set apart at creation. God rested upon the seventh day, blessed the seventh day and hallowed it. "The importance of the Sabbath as the memorial of creation is that it keeps ever present the true reason why worship is due to God"--because He is the Creator, and we are His creatures. "The Sabbath therefore lies at the very foundation of divine worship, for it teaches this great truth in the most impressive manner, and no other institution does this. The true ground of divine worship, not of that on the seventh day merely, but of all worship, is found in the distinction between the Creator and His creatures. This great fact can never become obsolete, and must never be forgotten."--J. N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, chapter 27. (GC 437-438) To whom was the Sabbath given? Mark 2:27-28. And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. Note that the Sabbath was given to the human race even before the existence of the Jews as a memorial for all mankind. How did God establish the Sabbath for all mankind? Ezekiel 20:12. Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them . Ezekiel 20:20. And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. Note that the Sabbath was inaugurated for all mankind as a sign between God and His people, and a sign of God as the sanctifier. What was Jesus practice during the Sabbath? Luke 4:16. And he (Jesus) came to Nazareth , where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read . What did Jesus' tell His disciples to pray for on their flight when Jerusalem would be destroyed? Matthew 24:20. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day : Note that Jesus predicted the Sabbath would be kept in 70 AD at the destruction of Jerusalem over 35 years after His death. Did Paul and Barnabas observe the Sabbath? Acts 13:42-44. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God . Note that Paul and Barnabas both kept the Sabbath themselves and met to worship God with the whole city, Jews and Gentiles alike. Where did Paul spend his Sabbath in Philippi? Acts 16:12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia , and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. Acts 16:13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither . Note that Paul met privately with a group of believers on the Sabbath day where they went outside the city gate by the riverside to worship God. Does God have a special day? Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day , and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, What did Christ says His day? Mark 2:28 The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath . Matthew 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day . Note that if the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, the Sabbath must be the Lord's Day. What did the fourth commandment declares? Exodus 20: 10 The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord ." How did the Lord designate it thru the prophet Isaiah? Isaiah 58:13 … My holy day . Note: “The Lord's day mentioned by John was the Sabbath, the day on which Jehovah rested after the great work of creation, and which He blessed and sanctified because He had rested upon it. The Sabbath was as sacredly observed by John upon the Isle of Patmos as when he was among the people, preaching upon that day. By the barren rocks surrounding him, John was reminded of rocky Horeb, and how, when God spoke His law to the people there, He said, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8). {SL 74} What day did Jesus crucify? Luke 23:54 And that day was the preparation , and the sabbath drew on. Luke 23:54 NEB. It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin. When the preparation or Friday is over, how did the disciples observe the Sabbath? Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment . Note that the day Jesus rested in the tomb was on the Sabbath or Saturday. What day did Jesus resurrect? Luke 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week , very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. Luke 24:1 NEB. But on the Sunday morning very early they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared. Note that the Sabbath is clearly Saturday, the seventh day of the week. Is Jesus ever the same Lord of the Sabbath? Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever . Is the Sabbath to be observed in the new heavens and the new earth? Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth , which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. |
