-- Picking Oranges from Trees --
Have you picked an lemon or persimmon from a tree branch that hangs over the wall? Or walked next to orange orchard and pick a orange because it is hanging over the fence?
There is a law in Israel that allows people that is passing by or the poor to pick-up wheat and barley from the corners of the field or wheat that has dropped on the ground from the harvesters. The story of Ruth was all about helping the poor by allowing them to harvest the dropped wheat.
-- Harvesting on the Sabbath --
So it was with Jesus. Jesus and his disciples were spending a quit afternoon walking through the countries side. It was the time of harvest. As the sun rose toward noon, the disciples picked some wheat and rubbed the cornels so they have a bit to eat.
They must of been talking about something important as they forgot it was Sabbath.
Well, there were some Pharisees nearby that saw this. The Pharisees approached Jesus to confront him of this.
"Why are you allowing your disciples to harvest on the Sabbath? Don't you know that you are not suppose to work on the Sabbath?"
Jesus' replied by saying: "The Sabbath was made for men and not men for the Sabbath."
Many believe that by saying this, Jesus nullified the Sabbath restrictions. We can do most anything we want on this day.
As Seventh-day Adventists, we should understand the Sabbath well. At first, I was under the impression that most people sitting here know all about the Sabbath, but I found that to be untrue. So I decided to address some of the issues that I see about the Sabbath.
When I think about the Sabbath three main questions come to mind. I shall attempt answer them but first let us remind ourselves of the origins of the Sabbath.
**** Pray ****
-- God's Date --
Six thousand years ago, God and Adam set a date. God told Adam that He will come down to spend time with him every evening and on seventh-day of every week. On that day, Adam did not have to work but rather take the day off to spend time with God. Let's read it for yourself:
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (Genesis 2:1-3 NKJV)
So God made this day holy or a day to worship Him.
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:8-9 NKJV)
That was the beginning of the human race's relationship with God. Our ancestors stood God up.
-- Sin --
After sin, Adam and Eve was not able to walk with God any more. They were sinful and God's glory would have killed him instantly. But God did not abandon them. Every Sabbath, they were to come to the gate of their old Garden home and worship there.
Down through the ages, God continued to come to on the Sabbath, but man forgot their appointment except for a few.
-- Exodus --
About two thousand years after creation, a man by the name of Moses came along. God called Moses out of exile to go and deliver His people from slavery. After a series of miraculous plagues the Egyptians finally let the Israelites go. They arrived at the mountain of God, Mount Sinai. There, God gives these people His laws - the Ten Commandments.
One of those Laws renews the original agreement - the date God had set with humanity. Do you know what is the name? - Yes, the forth commandment.
Shall we read this commandment again. Turn your Bibles to Exodus 20:8-11:
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:8-11)
Canon
The Israelites eventually entered Canon and forgot about the Sabbath again. As a result of their apostasy, they were taken into captivity. When they returned after seventy years, their leaders wanted to make sure they will never forget God's law. They created all types of extra rules to make sure everyone understood how to keep law including the Sabbath. As a result, the Sabbath became a real burden for the Jews.
-- Jesus --
Another 500 some years go by and a man by the name of Jesus appears. Jesus purposely broke the Sabbath rules to create a discussion about the Sabbath. He would heal on the Sabbath and make food on the Sabbath. He made declarations such as: "The Sabbath is made for man and not man for the Sabbath." - Mark 2:27. Another interesting comment He said of the Sabbath was: "My Father works, therefore I also work." - John 5:17
-- Christians --
After Jesus ascended to heaven, the early Christians continued to keep the Sabbath until sometime in the first century AD. They switched over to worshiping on Sunday. There were only a very small group of Christians that kept the Sabbath. Over 1500 years went by before the Sabbath was rediscovered by a gentleman by the name of Joseph Smith.
-- Questions --
When I started researching about the Sabbath for this sermon, four questions came to my mind:
1. Which day is the right way to worship - Sabbath or Sunday or any day?
2. Does the Book of Revelation speak about the Sabbath. I have heard about the Sunday Law and such but what does the Bible really say?
3. Will there be Sabbath in heaven?
4. What can I do and not do on the Sabbath?
I will trying to go through all four questions quickly. If you want more detail explanation, you will have to come to me during potluck.
-- Sabbath vs. Sunday --
Question #1 - Which day is correct - Sabbath or Sunday?
People that keep Sunday primarily use four Bible text to say that Sabbath has been abolished in the New Testament. The first text is Act 20:7 -
7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
This proves that the early Christian worshipped on Sunday.
I have three main responses to this. Response #1, if you read Acts 20, you will find that Paul was leaving the next morning. This his last time to see them so they wanted to listen to Paul for the last time. So it did not matter what day it was, they would have probably gather together to listen to him.
Number 2 response is found in Act 13:14, 42-44
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
-- Acts 13:42-44 --
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue,[j] the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
So Paul arrives at a city called Pisidia. The first Sabbath he went to the Synagogue and they Jews invited him to preach. But when the Jews rejected the message the Gentiles begged him to preach for them the next week. What day did Paul preach to the Gentiles? - Yes on the Sabbath. Since he was preaching to the Gentiles, he had no obligation to worship on the Sabbath, he could have worshipped on Sunday if he wanted. Yet he worshiped on Sabbath.
Response #3 - Do you know how many times Acts mentions Paul worshiping on Sabbath? - 84 different times. If you use the Sunday worship as an example, then you should also use the Sabbath worship as validation.
-- 1 Corinthians 16:2 --
The second text that is commonly used is 1 Corinthians 16:2:
2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
This is just talking about the fact that we should save up moneys for an offering. God calls us to give the first fruits of our labor to God instead of what is left over.
-- Colossians 2:16-17 --
The third text is Colossians 2:16-17:
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Paul is saying here that we should disregard the all rules. This includes dietary rules, the festivals and even Sabbath. Why is Paul contradicting himself? First he worships on the Sabbath during his ministry, then he writes that the Sabbaths have been abolished? The Answer:- The Jews refer to both the seventh-day of the week as the Sabbath, but they also say that their festival days are also Sabbaths.
We need to carefully dissect this text to fully understand it. In the verse Paul identifies dietary restrictions, new moons and Sabbaths as a "shadow of things to come". So what is the "things to come"? Paul further explains that the "things to come" is Jesus. Paul is saying since Jesus has come, all those things that help us understand and point to the coming of Jesus can be removed. If the real is already here, we don't need to symbol of the real.
But the seventh-day Sabbath was created before sin. It is a memorial of creation and not to point to Jesus, hence Paul could not have been referring to the seventh-day Sabbath. The Sabbath Paul was talking about are the various feasts such as Passover. Those festivals are used to point to Jesus.
-- Revelation 1:10 --
Last text, Revelations 1:10:
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
Apostle John was in vision so he tells his audience that his vision occurred on the Lord's day. There are also many other references of the Lord's Day. Many Christians say that the Lord's Day means Sunday since Jesus rose from the dead on that day. So to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and his Victory, we worship on the day of his victory.
Let's turn to Matt. 12:7-8:
7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’[a] you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even[b] of the Sabbath.”
Jesus was addressing the Pharisees that was accusing his disciples of breaking the Sabbath. Which day did Jesus say he was Lord over? -- correct, the Sabbath. So if Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, then which day is the "Lord's Day?" -- correct, the Sabbath.
-- Catholic Church Claims --
Allow me to read you some additional of the quotes: (*** Select a few ***)
"It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church."—Priest Brady, in an address at Elizabeth, N.J., March 17, 1903, reported in the Elizabeth, N.J. News of March 18, 1903.
"You may search the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saterday, a day which we never sanctify."—James Cardinal Gibbon, The Faith of Our Fathers, chapter 8.
"If Protestants would follow the Bible, they should worship God on the Sabbath day. In keeping the Sunday they are following a law of the Catholic Church."—Albert Smith, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, replying for the Cardinal, in a letter of February 10, 1920.
"We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty."—Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, June 20, 1894; The Great Encyclical Letters of Leo XIII, p. 304.
"Prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the holy Catholic Church alone. The Bible says ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.’ The Catholic Church says, No. By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first day of the week. And lo! The entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the Holy Catholic Church."—Priest Thomas Enright, CSSR, President of Redemptorist College, Kansas City, MO, in a lecture at Hartford, Kansas Weekly Call, February 22, 1884, and the American Sentinel, a New York Roman Catholic journal, in June 1893, p. 173.
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act . . AND THE ACT IS A MARK of her ecclesiastical power."—From the office of cardinal Gibbons, through Chancellor H. F. Thomas, November 11, 1895.
THE CATHOLIC EXTENSION MAGAZINE
180 Wabash Ave., Chicago, Illinois
(Under the Blessing of Pop Pius XI)
Dear sir:
Regarding the change from the observance of the Jewish Sabbath to the Christian Sunday, I wish to draw your attention to the facts:
(1) That Protestants, who accept the Bible as the only rule of faith and religion, should by all means go back to the observance of the Sabbath. The fact that they do not, but on the contrary observe the Sunday, stultifies them in the eyes of every thinking man.
(2) We Catholics do not accept the Bible as the only rule of faith. Besides the Bible we have the living Church, the authority of the Church, as a rule to guide us. We say, this Church instituted by Christ, to teach and guide men through life, has the right to change the Ceremonial laws of the Old Testament and hence, we accept her change of the Sabbath to the Sunday. We frankly say, "yes, the Church made this change, made this law, as she made many other laws, for instance, the Friday Abstinence, the unmarried priesthood, the laws concerning mixed marriages, the regulation of Catholic marriages, and a thousand other laws."
(3) We also say that of all Protestants, the Seventh-day Adventists are the only group that reason correctly and are consistent with their teachings. It is always somewhat laughable to see the Protestant Churches, in pulpit and legislature, demand the observance of Sunday of which there is nothing in the Bible.
With best wishes,
Peter R. Tramer, Editor
The Catholic Church admits to making the changes of the Sabbath. They state that they have the authority to do so.
-- Sabbath in Revelation --
We have spend a lot of time discussing the claims of Sunday being the day of worship. Many people have claimed that the Sunday Law is going to be one of the deciding factors in the last days. Is that true?
If the Sabbath issue is going to be part of the last conflict, then it should definitely be addressed in the book that talks about the last days. Correct?
The word "Sabbath" is not in the book of revelation. But it does imply that the Sabbath will be one of the issues in the last days.
Before we go into that I need to explain how one author often reference another. The Bible often draws references from one text to another. The New Testament especially references the Old Testament. it is important to take the text in context of the references. These references can come in one of four ways:
1. The first way is to place the text side-by-side with the original text to draw comparisons. This is a direct quote.
2. The second way is to find the thematic and structural clues to determine an Old Testament reference.
Let's turn to Revelations 13:1:2
The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
This is an obvious reference to Daniel 7 but this one beast has a lot more horns and heads than the Daniel 7 beast. However, if you add all the heads and horns of Daniel 7, you will find the there are seven heads and ten horns. This beast and Daniel's beasts all come out of the water. The thematic parallels allow us to safely drawing a conclusion that this beast is a reference the Daniel 7 vision. Can we all agree to that? (If you want further explanation, please come see me at lunch.)
3. The third way is to use various concordances and commentaries to help draw New and Old Testament similarities.
4. The forth way is to apply the appropriate insights to the text. Very often, the writer assumes certain knowledge from the reader. So it is essential to draw some of the assumptions before we truly understand the full meaning of the text.
Back to the question at hand. Does Revelation reference the Sabbath?
In Revelations 12, John gives is a overview of the conflict between Jesus and Satan. Then he uses Chapter 13 and 14 to future explain that is happening. The core issue in this conflict is mentions about six times in these two chapters. The core issue is about who you are going to worship. Are you going to worship the dragon or the Lamb?
In Revelations 14, John starts to describe who are the saints and what is the message to the world. In Revelation 14:7, we find the first of the three messages to the world - commonly known as the three angel's message:
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Many of us have heard this text many times. At the end of the message, the angel identifies who we are suppose to worship. Who is that person?
Worship him who make the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.
This is obviously a reference to God the creator, but did you know that this phrase is only found twice in the Old Testament? Once in Exodus and the other time in Psalms. After some analysis, you will find that the reference in Exodus fits better than the reference in Psalms.
Shall we go to Exodus to see that reference? Please turn with me to Exodus 20:11.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
John is basically saying, without using the word Sabbath, that the worship the Lord of the Sabbath is going to be one of the main issues in the last days.
Wow.
-- Sabbath in Heaven --
But what about worship in heaven? Will there be a special day of worship?
Let us turn to Isaiah 66:22:23 to see if there is Sabbath in heaven:
22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the LORD, “So shall your descendants and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.
This is very clear, we will be worshipping on Sabbath in the new heavens and new earth. If God created the Sabbath at creation and we will continue to worship on Sabbath in the new heaven and new earth, why would we not worship on the Sabbath now? Why would we have a break of the day of worship for a two thousand years and then go back to it again?
-- Ten Commandments --
Most Christians agrees that nine of the ten commandments should be kept. But when we keep all tenth it is legalism? But keeping nine is not -- Hmmm. Why would we reject one of the ten. Why would God ask us to be a 90%'er instead of a 100%'er?
-- Forth Commandment --
So let us refresh what the forth commandment says. Exodus 20:8-11:
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
-- Points --
Before we continue, let's make sure we understand what this commandment says:
1. The Sabbath is the Lord's - vs 10 - "but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." So we don't own the Sabbath, but rather it is God's day. When we go on a date, we are to give our time and attention to our date. That time is not our own, but rather the time is to be used to please our date. In this case, who is our date? - God
2. You and your family should not work on that day.
3. You should not make your servants work either. Since we don't have any servants, does this apply to us? - Yes, we should not make people work to serve us.
4. This day is an memorial of creation.
5. God blessed this day and made it holy. Hence those that keep this day also receives a blessing.
-- Misconceptions - Buying on Sabbath --
I've heard people say that we should not buy or sell on the Sabbath. Does it say you should not exchange money on the Sabbath? The answer is No. However, it does say we should not make other people work. So we you buy something from a store, the store clerk that is assisting you is working on your behave. In this new age of the internet you can buy something on the internet, you are not really making anyone work since the systems are automated.
But buying and selling is not what the Sabbath is all about.
-- Isaiah 58 --
We know what we are not suppose to do, but what are the things that we can do? Isaiah 58:13-14 puts the Sabbath in positive terms:
13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the LORD honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Isaiah is telling the Children of Israel how to keep the Sabbath or further explain the Forth Commandment.
First, he gives a bunch of donts and a bunch of does.
What are the things we should not do?
• From doing your pleasure on My holy day
• doing your own ways,
• Nor finding your own pleasure
• Nor speaking your own words
What are the does then?
• Do God's pleasure
• Speak God's words
• Be happy
Jesus gave us examples of things to do on Sabbath. Can you name some of them?
• Heal the sick
• Go to church
• Go for a walk
-- Three Simple Rules --
I would propose three very simple rules or principles to govern your observance of the Sabbath.
Rule #1: We should not work on Sabbath and we should not make other people work. Exception to the rules are activities that will relief other people's pain and suffering. Such as working in the hospital where if you don't work, someone may die.
Rules #2: What you should do should make you happy. God wants us to look forward to the Sabbath. He wants us to call it a delightful day.
Rule #3: Whatever you do, it should bring you closer to God. And Jesus did not go take a nap or stop working. Jesus even said that "God works on the Sabbath, so he also works." The work that he does is work that will bring others and himself closer to God.
**** Song: Temple Made of Time ****
-- Application --
Let us do some association exercise. I'm going to say two things and you have to tell me how the two items or topics are associated. Or how one can be made a parable of another. OK?
-- Flower --
How is a flower and Sabbath associate? ...
I can study the flower and discover the beauty. Through the flower, I can praise God for the creation of such a simple yet complicate plant. The appreciation of God's creation is worship.
But if I study the plant for my Botany class, that is work. I am not studying for the purpose of learning to appreciate God but rather to pass my class.
-- Orange --
How is an orange and Sabbath associated? ...
If I pick an orange on in an orchard on Sabbath to put into a big bin to go to market, that is working.
If I pick an orange an in an orchard on Sabbath to eat it, I am feed myself.
If I walk through an orchard on Sabbath and pick an orange, then continue to walk and talk to God. That is worship.
-- Small Stone --
How is a small stone and Sabbath associated? ...
A small stone is ridged and hard. It does not conform to anything. If it is under your feet, it will hurt your feet. But if you crushed the stone, it becomes sand. The elements are the same but now, the sand feels soft under my feet. It conforms to the contour of my feet.
Some people look at the Sabbath as ridged. We have rules of does and dont's. These rules make Sabbath un-conforming and it painful trying to keep all those rules. But if we change the way we think of Sabbath, it can be like sand. Sabbath can be a happy day what makes living better. Sabbath is still Sabbath. It is the same element - the Sabbath. But we can change the Sabbath to be an happy delightful day.
-- Conclusion --
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. —Revelation 21:1 (ESV)
22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth I am about to make will remain standing before me,” says the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will remain. 23 From one month to the next and from one Sabbath to the next, all people will come to worship me,” says the LORD. —Isaiah 66:22-23.
For the Sabbath is made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Go ye therefore and enjoy the day the Lord has made.
