Manuscript Releases, vol. 19 [Nos. 1360-1419]

Satan's Efforts to Destroy the Sabbath Memorial of the Creation

All society is ranging into two great classes, the obedient and the disobedient. Among which class shall we be found? 19MR 241.4

Those who keep God's commandments, those who live not by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, compose the church of the living God. Those who choose to follow antichrist are subjects of the great apostate. Ranged under the banner of Satan, they break God's law and lead others to break it. They endeavor so to frame the laws of nations that men shall show their loyalty to earthly governments by trampling upon the laws of God's kingdom. 19MR 242.1

Satan is diverting minds with unimportant questions, in order that they shall not with clear and distinct vision see matters of vast importance. The enemy is planning to ensnare the world. 19MR 242.2

The so-called Christian world is to be the theater of great and decisive actions. Men in authority will enact laws controlling the conscience, after the example of the papacy. Babylon will make all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Every nation will be involved. Of this time John the Revelator declares: [Revelation 18:3-7, quoted]. 19MR 242.3

“These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful” [Revelation 17:13, 14]. 19MR 242.4

“These have one mind.” There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan's forces. “And shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism. 19MR 242.5

In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be united, in opposition to God's people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In this warfare the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will be the great point at issue; for in the Sabbath commandment the great Law-giver identifies Himself as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. 19MR 243.1

Satan tempted Christ with bribes, promising that if He would worship him, He should have the kingdoms of the world. The enemy well knew that if the Saviour should worship him, the kingdoms of the world could never become the kingdoms of our God and of His Son, Christ Jesus. Likewise, in the last great issue between Christ's followers and the powers of darkness, Satan offers his bribes to men and women. Some sell themselves for naught; for what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 19MR 243.2

In the place of the bribes he offered Christ, Satan comes to God's people in this age of the world with the laws of nations in his hands, declaring: “I now have matters arranged. You must worship me, or else your rights of protection from the world will be withdrawn from you.” 19MR 243.3

By many, the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is made void, being treated as a thing of naught; while the spurious sabbath, the child of the papacy, is exalted. In the place of God's laws, are elevated the laws of the man of sin—laws that are to be received and regarded as the wonderful golden image of Nebuchadnezzar was by the Babylonians. Forming this great image, Nebuchadnezzar commanded that it should receive universal homage from all, both great and small, high and low, rich and poor. 19MR 243.4

Alike in heaven and on the earth Satan has always claimed homage from Christ. That which he had failed to gain in heaven he was determined to gain on the earth, from the human family. But Christ came to this earth as a man, here to meet and overcome the enemy. And when Satan presented a bribe to induce the Saviour to worship him, the Son of God repulsed him and came out of the conflict victoriously. This victory was won for us. We, too, may repulse the enemy at every step. 19MR 243.5

The Sabbath of the fourth commandment, sanctified by God, was given to man as the memorial of the creation of the world and all things therein. Ever since the institution of the Sabbath in Eden, Satan has made a determined effort to destroy this memorial, and in its stead to institute a spurious sabbath, in order that the memorial of God's great and wonderful works might be lost from the mind, and there be brought about a worldwide apostasy against God's law. He well knows that by leading men and women to disregard the fourth commandment, he has placed them on his side of the controversy; for God says: “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” 19MR 244.1

Paul writes: [2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, quoted]. In Revelation we read concerning Satan: [Revelation 13:13-17; 14:1-5; Revelation 16:13-15; 19:1-9, 19, 20; Revelation 20:12-15, quoted]. 19MR 244.2

Among professed Christians there are idolaters, men and women who are not sealed by God. Many have subverted the Christian faith into idolatry, giving to a man-made institution the glory and honor that God requires for His Sabbath day, and compelling others to worship this idol. Such ones will surely be visited with God's retributive judgments, which are to be poured out without mixture of mercy upon the unrepentant despisers of God's law. 19MR 244.3