The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 75

November 29, 1898

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 48, p. 76.

WITHOUT faith it is impossible to please God. the reason for this is that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23); and of course sin can not please God. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.1

This is why it is that, as stated by the Spirit of prophecy on the first page of the REVIEW, Oct. 18, 1898, “The knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.2

And for this cause we shall hereafter, in this place in each number of the REVIEW, give a Scripture lesson on faith,—what is it, how it comes, how to receive it,—that every reader of this paper may have this knowledge that “is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.3

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 48, p. 76.

“THERE shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:25. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.1

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” And “when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Verse 28; Matthew 24:33. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.2

These things begin to come to pass long ago; for years we have been telling the people that this is so. But now we see all these things. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.3

When these things began to come to pass, which was long ago, then redemption was drawing nigh. But now, when we see all these things, it is even at the doors. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.4

The day of redemption, therefore, is certainly now at hand. But though this is so, though there is distress of nations with perplexity; though the nations are angry, and are ready to break forth into the time of trouble that will overwhelm all, yet the day of redemption can not come “till the servants of our God” are sealed. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.5

For “I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.6

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Revelation 7:1-3. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.7

Then as certainly as “all these things” are now seen, so certainly is the day of redemption at hand. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.8

And as certainly as the day of redemption is at hand, so certainly is the time of the sealing of God’s people nearer at hand, because these must be sealed before that great day. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.9

But it is “the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.10

The Lord is now, and for more than a year has been, especially calling his people to receive the Holy Spirit. And as the work of the Holy Spirit is to seal the receiver unto the day of redemption, this demonstrates both that the day of redemption is at hand and that now is the time of the sealing of the servants of God, because the sealing of the servants of God must precede the day of redemption. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.11

Thus every sign, both in the church and in the world, testifies with a loud voice that the day of redemption is at hand, and that the time of the sealing of the servants of God is also certainly at hand. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.12

But do you want to see this clearly stated on direct authority? Here it is: “The time has come when all who work in Christ’s lines will have the mark of God, in words, in spirit, in character, in their honor of Immanuel.”—Testimony, Sept. 20, 1898. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.13

God calls upon all to receive the Holy Ghost, because by the Holy Spirit “ye are sealed unto the day of redemption;” and “the time has come” for the servants of our God to be sealed, so that they “will have the mark of God in words, in spirit, in character, in their honor of Immanuel.” Where stand you? How stand you? ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.14

“Get ready, get ready, get ready.” “Ask, and it shall be given you.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “Be filled with” “the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 76.15

“God’s Rest Is in the Sabbath. Hebrews 3:7 to 4:9” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 48, pp. 766, 767.

WHEN god made man, he made him that he might enter into and enjoy God’s eternal rest with God. However, this could be only upon the man’s personal choice, freely made. The Lord therefore placed him on a season of probation. And in this probation, God prepared for the man, and gave to the man, the introduction to, yes, the very beginning of, this eternal rest, that in his probation the man might choose and enjoy God’s rest with God. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.1

When God’s rest was prepared for man at the foundation of the world, it was in the seventh-day Sabbath that it was prepared. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.2

For the seventh day is the Sabbath, the rest, of the Lord thy God, and the Sabbath was made for man. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.3

So, the seventh day being the Sabbath, the Sabbath being God’s rest, and the Sabbath being made for man at the foundation of the world, it is certainly true that it is in the Sabbath that God’s rest was prepared for man at the foundation of the world. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.4

And even so saith the Scripture. For, speaking of Israel, God said: “I have sworn in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, They shall not enter into my rest.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.5

That is to say: The works were finished from the foundation of the world. When the works were finished, the rest was prepared; for then “God did rest... from all his works.” This rest was prepared in the seventh day; for “God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” This rest of God’s was at that time prepared for man; for the seventh day is the rest of the Lord thy God: and the rest was made for man. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.6

But through unbelief the man failed to enter into God’s rest. He did not abide in God’s work, and so he could not enter into God’s rest. Through unbelief he entered into Satan’s works, and so missed God’s rest. God’s rest never can accompany Satan’s works; God’s rest accompanies only God’s work. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.7

Then, though the man had failed, the rest remained; and he was given again the opportunity to believe, and so find God’s rest,—the opportunity to believe, and so to forsake Satan’s works and find God’s work; and, finding God’s work, so also to find God’s rest. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.8

And so God’s rest still remained till the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham and his seed, which is Christ,—till the time when God would deliver his people from Egypt, from the world of sin: then he called Israel to enter into his rest,—into this rest which he had prepared for man at the foundation of the world, but into which man, through unbelief, failed to enter, and which yet remained for the people of God. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.9

And so God called Israel to enter into his rest—to enjoy and observe his Sabbath. For the Sabbath is the Lord’s, it is God’s rest; and “the seventh day is the Sabbath.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.10

But Israel failed to enter into God’s rest; Israel would not believe, and so could not enter in. For “I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.” But “to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.11

“What!” say you, “did Israel not keep the Sabbath”?—No; how could they, when they did not believe? “But,” say you, “did they not rest on the seventh day?”—O yes; they rested on the seventh day; but for all that they did not keep the Sabbath. There is a great difference between resting on the seventh day and keeping the Sabbath. A person might rest on the seventh day all his life, and yet never keep the Sabbath. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.12

The Sabbath of the Lord is God’s rest; only he who finds God’s rest finds the true Sabbath; and only he who keeps God’s rest, truly keeps the Sabbath. True Sabbath-keeping depends altogether upon whether a person finds God’s rest, or only his own, on the seventh day. Israel rested on the seventh day, it is true; but it was only their own rest that they found, and entered into, on the Sabbath day. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.13

God’s rest is spiritual; only he who is spiritual can enter into it, and only he who is of faith is spiritual: therefore only he who is of faith can enter into God’s rest, only he who is of faith can keep the Sabbath of the Lord. And though it is true that a person might rest on the seventh day all his life without truly observing the Sabbath, yet he can not truly observe the Sabbath without resting on the seventh day; for “God did rest the seventh day,” and it is in the seventh day that God’s rest is found. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.14

But Israel did not believe, and so could not enter into God’s rest; “howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses,” but with the vast majority it was so. And so Israel, as man at the first, through unbelief missed God’s rest, which was prepared at the foundation of the world, and which had waited so long for men to enter. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 766.15

Yet though Israel failed to enter into God’s rest, that rest did not fail: it still remains, and waits for men to enter it. Though Israel failed to discern in the seventh day God’s rest, and so missed it, that rest, that Sabbath, of the seventh day did not vanish away; it still, even to-day, “remaineth,” and waits for man to enter into it. For “seeing... that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief; again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a time; ... to-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God;” and this rest is God’s rest, which Adam missed, and Israel missed; but which, in the Lord’s mercy, still remains for people to enter. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.1

This rest that remains is the Sabbath; for the margin of the verse gives the literal Greek: “There remaineth therefore the keeping of a Sabbath to the people of God.” And this Sabbath that remains is the seventh-day Sabbath; for in this place it is written, in direct connection: “He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again [he spoke of the seventh day on this wise], They shall not enter into my rest.” Then seeing that some must enter into that rest, and they back there did not enter in, there remains therefore to the people of God this same rest, the keeping of this same Sabbath, which is “the seventh day.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.2

Again: it is written that there “remaineth... a rest,“—the keeping of a Sabbath,—”to the people of God.” Now that which remaineth is something left over, something continued of what was before. But the only Sabbath that there was before, in which was God’s rest, was the seventh-day Sabbath. And as there remaineth a Sabbath; as whatever remains is something continued of what was before; and as the seventh-day Sabbath is the only Sabbath that there was before, in which was God’s rest, it is therefore the very certainty of truth that the Sabbath which remaineth is the Sabbath of the seventh day. For “God did rest the seventh day.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.3

Yet again: whatever remains is something left over, something continued, of what was before. The remainder is not the beginning of a thing. “That which remaineth” can not correctly be spoken of anything newly begun, of something only just now being set up. Now the most extreme claim for the origin of Sunday, the first day of the week, as a “day of rest” or “the Christian Sabbath” is that it was in “the primitive church” “in the apostolic times.” Therefore as, according to their own claim, that time was but the beginning of Sunday observance as a day of rest; and as what remaineth is something left over, something continued, of what was before, it is the very certainty of truth that this “rest,” this “keeping of a Sabbath,” that “remaineth to the people of God,” is NOT the rest of the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, which, according to their own claim, was just then having its beginning, but IS the rest of the seventh day, the Sabbath of the Lord, which was prepared at the foundation of the world, which waited for Israel to enter in, and which, thank the Lord! “REMAINETH to the people of God.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.4

Does somebody say, “The Sabbath was abolished”?—God says it REMAINETH. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.5

Does somebody say, “The Sabbath of the seventh day was changed in the days of the apostles, and by the apostles”?—The word of God, written in the days of the apostles, and by an apostle, declares that it REMAINETH. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.6

And this “rest,” this “Sabbath,” of the seventh day, which “remaineth,” is God’s rest, is God’s Sabbath; for “he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day.... And in this place again [he spoke of the seventh day, on this wise], They shall not enter into my rest.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.7

God is the eternal God. His rest is, therefore, eternal rest. And the seventh day is the rest, the Sabbath, of the Lord thy God. therefore the Sabbath, the rest of the seventh day, being God’s rest, is eternal rest. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.8

It was prepared for man to enter into and enjoy, at the foundation of the world. Through unbelief the man failed to enter into it. It waited till the time which God had sworn to Abraham; and, through unbelief, the people then failed to enter in. And still, “to-day,” it remaineth; for “some must enter therein.” “Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” For he has limited a certain day, saying, still, “To-day, after so long a time; ... TO-DAY if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.9

“‘Thou Shalt Not Eat Any Abominable Thing’” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 48, pp. 767, 668.

ONLY last week the New York Tribune reported, as a point of worthy and valuable information, that “Professor H. W. Wiley, of the chemistry division of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, has been experimenting for a year on the preparation of meat for eating, and here are some of his conclusions: ‘Meat should never be eaten until they have ripened, like game; and this process is calculated to consume about three weeks.’ He says that a chicken should be hung out of a window, head down, until the head falls off, when it is ripe for eating.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.1

Now a chicken that hangs out of the window or anywhere else “till the head drops off,” is simply rotten; and whoever eats is, eats meat that is rotten. Yet according to the estimation of this United States government professor, it is then just “ripe for eating.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.2

And as a chicken so rotten that the head falls off is “ripe for eating,” this explains what is meant by the same “professor” in the statement that “meats should never be eaten till it is rotten. And the “process” of getting it sufficiently rotten to be “ripe” “is calculated to consume about three weeks.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.3

There is hardly any doubt that this official information conveyed by the government professor will be generally accepted throughout the country. Indeed, the way is already, and for a good while has been, prepared for this in the general practise of keeping meat two weeks before it is laid on the block to be retailed. The great majority of dealers—there is hardly an exception in the cities—will refuse to cut a quarter of beef before it has lain at least two weeks after killing. And another week only allows it to become somewhat more “ripe;” that is, more rotten. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.4

This vast proportion of the meat now eaten is killed and prepared in the great slaughterhouses, as at Chicago, Omaha, and Kansas City, and is shipped from these great houses to the smaller dealers. By the time the animals are taken from the fields to the railroad, and shipped in crowded, rushing, jolting, jarring, swaying cars, long distances, occupying days and nights, to the places of slaughter, the excitement, the fright, the strain of long-sustained nervous tension, and the thirst,—all these make the meat absolutely unfit to eat, even when perfectly fresh; but when this meat is held two weeks before it is cut at all for the consumer, or three weeks, that it may be properly “ripe,” it is plain enough that a chicken so rotten that the head drops off is a very appropriate illustration of the condition of the meat that is sold at the end of three weeks. This condition is only slightly relieved when the meat is sold at the end of but two weeks, which is the almost universal custom. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.5

Yet meat that might have been eatable when it was fresh, is not fit to eat when two weeks old. It is corrupt and corrupting. Though not exactly a virulent poison, it is still a poison. It so corrupts the blood that often a slight cut, or even a mere scratch on the skin, is followed by “blood-poisoning.” In such cases the cause of the blood-poisoning is laid on the thing with which the person is cut or scratched; but the true cause lies in the corruption in the blood, derived from the old, corrupt mean, which has been the food of the individual. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.6

With pure blood, no ordinary cut, bruise, or scratch will cause a sore, much less blood-poisoning. But people who eat such meat as it now generally sold in the markets of the land—meat that has been kept two or three weeks after slaughter—are not safe for a moment. At any moment they are liable to a scratch, a bruise, or a cut; and when that is received, they are in danger of blood-poisoning because of the poison with which their blood is already laden. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.7

It is plain enough therefore, that the meat and game that are to-day generally sold in the markets are literally not fit to eat. And “thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.8

It is worthy mentioning, and is worthy of serious consideration by any who may still be lusting after the flesh-pots of Egypt, that in Bible times, where flesh was allowed to be eaten, the flesh of the sacrifices was not allowed to be eaten on the third day: “If ye offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the Lord, ye shall offer it at your own will. It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if aught remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire. And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted. Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity.” Leviticus 19:5-8; also 7:15-18. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 767.9

These sacrifices represented the Lord Jesus, the one true Sacrifice. How is it that they could represent him, and be accepted, and the worshiper accepted in making them, the same day and the second day, but not at all on the third day?—The reason is plain enough,—on the third day, decay and corruption had begun; and so the sacrifice could not represent the Lord Jesus; for there was no corruption in him: even his flesh saw no corruption. Acts 2:31; 13:35-37. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 768.1

That was true of flesh offered as a sacrifice, as a religious rite. And in this the truth was taught, not only that decay and corruption occur on the third day, but that when corruption has begun, flesh is not fit to be eaten, it is “abominable;” and the commandment was, and still is, “Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.” Deuteronomy 14:3. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 768.2

When Abraham would entertain the angels, he went to the herd, and “fetched a calf tender and good,” and gave it to a young man, who dressed it; and when it was prepared, he set it before them, “and they did eat.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 768.3

From all this it is perfectly plain that the flesh-meats that are to-day bought and eaten are abominable; and as “thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth, thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 768.4

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:17 to 7:1. ARSH November 29, 1898, page 768.5

For without holiness “no man shall see the Lord.” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 768.6

“Editorial Notes” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 48, p. 668.

AT Streator, Ill., a Good Citizenship league was organized, November 13, with the names of over one thousand voters on the roll, for the purpose of “municipal purification and civic reform.” They declare that “breakers of law are to be vigorously prosecuted; and if it should prove necessary, steps will be taken to impeach the city administration for neglect of duty.” This uprising is the result of a revival effort that has been carried on in the city for the last six weeks, resulting in the addition of over six hundred names to the membership of the churches. Merchants who have hitherto kept their places of business open on Sunday have promised to close them; and all who will not do so will be prosecuted. We are in the time of false reformations; and these will increase and spread. “There will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world.” Satan’s only influence is seduction; his only power is force: there is neither the influence nor the power of love. “There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the false, that is well adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived. In the light of God’s word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements: ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits.’” ARSH November 29, 1898, page 668.1