The Change of the Sabbath

The Crisis

Now we see the force of the fearful threatening of the third angel of Revelation 14. The time has at last come for God to reckon with this proud, blasphemous, persecuting power, which has dared to change his law, to claim divine prerogatives, and to persecute his saints. God did not choose to do this in the Dark Ages, when not one in a hundred could read or write, when one copy of the Bible would cost hundreds of dollars, and when it was almost impossible to find any copies which the common people could read, very few indeed being written in the language then spoken, but all hidden in the dead Hebrew, Greek, or Latin tongues. But he has waited until the great researches and discoveries of later times have opened up all the world to mankind. Till the earth is one vast network of railroads, and every river, yes, and every ocean, is constantly traversed by the sailboat or steamship. Till men talk to each other by means of the telegraph and telephone from town to town and from country to country. Till the busy printing-presses have scattered the Bible like leaves of autumn, in nearly four hundred languages, to every people, race, and tongue; and until nearly every nation can read and write. ChSa 180.3

Yes, God reserves this great crisis till all can know his word, if they desire to do so. As it was an age of great light when Christ first came, the Augustan age of poets, philosophers, and statesmen, so God has designed that the last great conflict of truth and error shall come in a special age of light and knowledge. In the time of the end, knowledge shall be increased. Daniel 12:4. God is merciful. He will give all who desire to do so a chance to know his will. Then he sends forth this fearful threatening: “If any man worship the beast.... he shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” With an open Bible in every man’s hand, God can consistently threaten those who violate his holy law, and follow longer that apostate power which thinks to change it. ChSa 181.1

We may now ask, What is the position of God’s true people? “Here are they,” says the third angel, “that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” They keep them as God gave them, and not as an apostate church changed them. And for that work that church is threatened with wrath without mercy. God’s people will be distinguished by obedience to him in this crisis, and will not follow another power. It would be absurd to suppose that when Christ comes he will find his people, who are to be translated alive to heaven, following the work of this wicked power, in disobedience to God’s law. We cannot, therefore, question the fact that the last great reform, the final conflict between truth and error, will be over the law of Jehovah. This issue is reserved as the last great test. ChSa 181.2

Would any say the issue is an insignificant one? They cannot truthfully do so. God has ever exalted his law as very sacred. He spoke and wrote it himself. Christ magnified it and made it “honorable.” He says, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law.” In the very last chapter of the Bible, Christ, the Alpha and Omega, declares, “Blessed are they that do his [the Father’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14. The wise man says: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13. He says again, “He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9. This law is not abolished by the gospel, for Paul says, some thirty years after the cross of Christ, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31. This law is of universal application. “Now we know that what things so ever the law says, it says to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans 3:19. So we might proceed, and fill page after page with just such quotations, showing the immutability of God’s “perfect,” “holy, just, and good,” “spiritual” law. Such are the expressions everywhere to be found in the blessed Bible concerning this law which the Deity promulgated in thunder tones from Sinai’s summit, with a voice that shook the earth. ChSa 182.1

Oh, no! This great conflict in the last days concerning this law which demands the obedience of every man, the transgression of which is sin, is no light thing. The very foundations of morality and true reverence for God are involved in the conflict. This law will be the main point of the struggle. God’s holy Sabbath, given to man at the creation of the world, kept for thousands of years by his people till changed by the man of sin, will have its proper position in the affections of God’s people, who will be translated at the coming of Christ. ChSa 182.2

The light is already shining on this subject. The reform connected with the third angel’s message in the restoration of the Bible Sabbath is extending to all parts of the earth. It is published already in the leading languages of the world. Printing offices for its promulgation are to be found in the United States, England, Switzerland, Norway, and Australia. Observers of the true Sabbath are to be found in the United States, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Rumania, and in some portions of Africa, South America, the Sandwich Islands, Australia, and New Zealand. Its adherents are being rapidly increased by the extensive circulation of publications, and by the active labors of ministers, missionary workers, colporteurs, and canvassers in every part of the globe. ChSa 183.1

Very recently there has been a wonderful growth of interest in the Sabbath question in all parts of the world. It is becoming a live question: it must and will be heard. We live in an age of investigation, and there is no theological question agitated today more plain or more important than this. Let the good work go on till the hoary error is exposed in all its deformity, and precious, blessed truth shines out clearly to all mankind. ChSa 183.2