"As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: `Christ has come! Christ has come!' The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is `the great power of God.'" Acts 8:10. {DD 41.4}

When we read the above future account, do we really believe that will ever happen? And if so, how close are we to such occurrences? Are you ready?

Listen to what the head of Rome says. "Sunday must be a day of rest for everyone, so people can be free to be with their families and with God", the pope said.

"By defending Sunday, one defends human freedom," he said during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square June 6.

"... Humanity has no future without the family." ...

The pope said when he met government representatives in Milan, he reminded them of the importance of policies and laws that protect the family. ... "Sunday is the day of the Lord and of man, a day which everyone must be able to be free, free for the family and free for God."

See how lies can become truth so easily for those under Satan's control?

1. How can being forced to keep Sunday holy be considered "freedom?" And
   
2. How can keeping Sunday holy in direct violation of God's eternal law be considered "free for God."

As prophecy said so long ago, all the world wonders after this beast. So anything it proclaims will be considered "gospel" to them. And rightly so, as the prophet Amos predicted long ago, most people today have no idea of what their Bibles say about all this. Sunday laws are that much closer to fruition brothers and sisters. Are you ready? Are you sure?! June 17 12.

And then again,

"The spirit behind taking time out on the Sabbath is as pivotal to a rounded life as ever it was."

As expected, the Roman Church is placing their Sunday "sabbath" in the forefront as if it's "the" way to "save our souls."

How ironic is this? When they hear us preach the Bible says Christians must be obedient to the Law of God, they claim we are trying to get to heaven by keeping Sabbath. But here we see they demand their people must do what they accuse us of doing?

A few dozen more articles like this in the coming weeks, months or even years, and you will have the people sufficiently conditioned to believe keeping Sunday holy will somehow stop the increased calamities. And soon after they fall for that lie, Sunday laws will be enforced to try and force Sabbath keepers to bow to the Pope who preach their theology is an easily proven lie, and our homeward trek to Jerusalem will escalate like never before! June 22 12.

Under Attack

He who attacks the sanctuary attacks the Sabbath. We need to remember this truth as we have increasing contact with SdA Church members, and even ministers, who either ignore the sanctuary doctrine or sneer at it. We will not weary you with statistical evidence, since contacts of this type are part of the experience of most of us today over a lengthy period of time. Let us consider the meaning and significance of this trend. We read,

"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." Rev. 11:19

We know that the ark was a chest beneath the mercy seat with overshadowing angels, and that this chest was the place wherein rested the two tables of the law written with the finger of God. The full significance of this fact was made clear to God's messenger. Ellen White describes how she was shown the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, containing the altar of incense, the table of shewbread, and the candlestick with its seven lamps. Then her attention was directed to the second apartment, the Most Holy Place, where she saw the ark and the two tables of the law. She writes:

"The four on the first table shone brighter than the other six. But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God's holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious--a halo of glory was all around it. I saw that the Sabbath commandment was not nailed to the cross. If it was, the other nine commandments were; and we are at liberty to break them all, as well as to break the fourth. I saw that God had not changed the Sabbath, for He never changes. . . .
And I saw that if God had changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day, He would have changed the writing of the Sabbath commandment, written on the tables of stone, which are now in the ark in the most holy place of the temple in heaven; and it would read thus: The first day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. But I saw that it read the same as when written on the tables of stone by the finger of God, and delivered to Moses on Sinai. "But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." (Ex. 20:10; Dt. 5:14) I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints." {EW 32.3-33.1}

This understanding was at once the reason for our pioneers' great appreciation for the sanctuary truth, and the reason for their opponents' great lack of appreciation for it.

We read,

"None could fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the heavenly, the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the law in the ark in heaven; and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God's law and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Here was the secret of the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition of the Scriptures that revealed the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary." {GC 435.1}

It was not that they intensely hated the sanctuary. They could have endured that doctrine. The object of their bitter hatred was the Sabbath commandment. And their hatred was so intense that they were willing to destroy the heavenly sanctuary, if necessary, in order to get rid of the Sabbath for the tables of the original Law of God were inside the ark in the Most Holy of the sanctuary in heaven.

On the Front

The spiritual battle lines were thus drawn, and there has been no change in those battles since then. The relation between the sanctuary and the Sabbath may not have been entirely clear to all of us, but it has been unmistakably clear to our opponents, as to the devil himself.

We read,

"... The same light which reveals the true Sabbath reveals also the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and shows that the last work for man's salvation is now going forward. Hold the minds of the people in darkness till that work is ended, and we shall secure the world and the church also." {TM 472.2}

Historically, theologically, and experientially, the Sabbath and the sanctuary are therefore firmly bonded, one to another. He who cherishes one of these two truths cherishes the other, and he who is scornful of the one will, sooner or later, become scornful of the other.

That is why we read,

"As is perhaps natural, the enemy of truth seems most persistent in trying to trouble and unsettle minds in regard to the sanctuary, for that is the citadel of our strength." {R&H, August 5, 1875, Uriah Smith article}

That statement was truth in 1875, and it is true today. Attacks on the sanctuary have been increasingly bitter and unrelenting in recent years. Kenneth Sample , an evangelical scholar and successor to Walter Martin, conducted a survey among ministers of the SE California Conference. In his questionnaire he included a statement that our sanctuary doctrine "had no biblical warrant, and was only accepted because of Ellen White." He asked these Adventist ministers whether they agreed or disagreed with that statement. Of the 56 ministers who responded to his questionnaire, only 29 stated that they disagreed. The others agreed or answered evasively, It is readily apparent that this decreasing respect for the sanctuary truth is accompanied by a decreasing respect for the Sabbath. We are forcibly reminded of Ellen White's prediction where she writes,

"After the truth has been proclaimed as a witness to all nations, every conceivable power of evil will be set in operation, and minds will be confused by many voices. . . Then there will be a removing of the landmarks, and an attempt to tear down the pillars of our faith. A more decided effort will be made to exalt the false sabbath, and to cast contempt upon God Himself by supplanting the day He has blessed and sanctified. This false sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law." {7BC 985.1}

We had better prepare our minds, then, for the probability that those SdA ministers and members who have made it their first goal to lead us into the false doctrines of Calvinism and Evolution, rejecting the sanctuary truth, and have made it their third goal to lead us into the false worship of Pentecostalism, will make it their next goal to lead us into exalting the false sabbath. (For non-SdAs reading this, in my limited experience these cases were either never or not frequently observed or suspected.)

Let us then spend a few moments reflecting about our precious heritage, the true Sabbath. What is the Sabbath really all about? What is its real significance in the plan of salvation and to us personally? The title of our study points to it.

Let us begin with two familiar and cherished scriptures.

"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 20:12.

"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." Ezekiel 20:20.

Tests and signs are a part of our daily lives. Signs are often associated with, or follow, tests. While we are sitting in the waiting room of the doctors office, we read with interest the signs on the walls, which tell us the doctor has passed certain tests, and is therefore qualified to practice his medical profession.

Many of the things that we use are tested, from the bolts, nuts, and screws to boats, cars, ships, and planes. People are tested too. The purpose of all this testing is prediction and the reduction of risk. What will happen if this boat is put into the water; if this car is put on the road; if this plane is put into the air? What will be the result if this woman goes into a classroom to teach; if this man sets up a practice of medicine? These are the kinds of questions that we try to answer in advance by testing. The obvious purpose of the testing is to reduce, or ideally to eliminate, the element of risk.

Experience teaches us that it is easier to test things than to test people. Our penitentiary parole boards have been struggling with this problem for years, without great success. It is their responsibility to try to predict human behavior in order to decide which prisoners can safely be returned to society. They often make mistakes, not because of insincerity, on their part. Surely they are as concerned about the security of their families as we are. Their problem is simply that they do not have a perfect system for testing.

Our Lord's Test

Our Lord is in a similar situation. He is planning to parole prisoners from planet earth and release them into the society of other worlds where there has never been any sin, and where we may be sure that the inhabitants do not ever want to have any sin. God therefore needs a test for the purpose of predicting human behavior. What kind of test would meet His requirements? There would ave to be at least five essential elements:

1. Such a test would have to be applicable to all people in all places on earth.
   
2. It would have to be applicable to people of all ages.
   
3. It would have to be applicable to people in all conditions of ability, education, talent, and wealth.
   
4. It would have to be reasonable and fair.
   
5. It would have to be unique, so that motivation would be clear.

There is only one thing that is available to all people of all ages and all conditions in all parts of the earth, and that is time. Everyone's day has 24 hours; everyone's week has seven days, and so on. This fact is true of nothing else but time. The use of time for a test is therefore strongly indicated. But how? To have a test involving time spent in work, or study, or even in recreation would be unfair. Not all persons can do these things, even should they so desire. What else is left?
Time spent in rest. This test could be fair. Not everyone can work, or study, or even play, but everyone can rest. But what about the question of motivation? People rest for different reasons. Some even rest so they can be more efficient in doing evil. Time spent in rest then falls a little short of meeting the need for a universal test.
Let us reflect about this test for a moment. People rest for different reasons, even bad reasons, but they do not restrict themselves to a particular time for resting. If we see them doing so, we may be sure that the reason is their desire to do the will of their Creator. Motivation would then be clear.
Now we are beginning to understand what the Sabbath is all about, It is indeed a sign, just as we read in Ezekiel 20. It provides a time for rest, for fellowship, and for worship. But more than this, it meets the need of a test for predicting human behavior. If we faithfully comply with the Sabbath commandment, we are demonstrating what we will do when the reason for God's commandment is not altogether clear to us.
Human reason can recognize the need for rest, but not on a particular day. As far as human reason is concerned, resting could be done on any day, or even on portions of days. The command to rest upon the seventh day is not based on human reason and, unlike the other commandments, makes no appeal to human reason. It is founded upon the revealed will of God, and nothing else. It therefore provides a very clear and satisfactory answer to the question, `What will this person do when he does not fully understand the reason for God's commandment?' It is an effective test for predicting human behavior and for deciding who is safe to save.

Our Lord's Quiz

Suppose that you had been fortunate enough to live on a planet where there had never been any sin. Then suppose that you learned that God is planning to "parole" a "prisoner" from Planet Earth and to allow him access to your planet. You would be concerned, and rightly so. You might express your concern by asking,

"Are you sure, Lord, that he is all right?"

The Lord could say in reply,

"You listen while we test him, and see what you think."

Then the Lord, in your presence, questions this earthling in regard to all the other commandments except the fourth, the Sabbath commandment. To each commandment the earthling makes the same response,

"Yes. That makes sense. That is clear and reasonable, and I understand it. I will gladly obey that commandment."

I do not think you would be content. I think you might say,

"Lord, that does not satisfy me at all. He is not obeying you; he is agreeing with you. He keeps saying that he will obey the commandments because they make sense to him. But what will happen if at some future time there is a commandment that is not altogether clear to him? What will he do then? Given his limited intelligence and his limited experience, that could easily happen."

The Lord could answer,

"We have a principle in the law specifically for the purpose of dealing with that question."

He then questions the candidate from earth in regard to the Sabbath commandment. Please notice that there could be two different responses. The candidate from earth might say,

"I understand the need for rest. I will faithfully rest. But I see no reason why the resting should be done on any particular day. I will rest when I need to rest. I can choose the time that is best for me."

I feel very sure that you would say,

"Lord, we do not want him here. Send him to some other planet, please."

Or the candidate from earth might answer like this,

"I understand the need for rest. I do not understand why it needs to be on a particular day, but I don't need to understand that. If that is what you want, that settles it for me."

I think you would say,

"I think he is all right; let him come."

What will we do when there is a requirement of God that we do not understand?

This is the real test for the quality of our relationship with God.

This is the test that Eve met in Eden and failed, Gen. 3:1-24.

This is the test that Abraham met on Mt. Moriah and passed, Gen. 22. This is the test that our Lord met in Gethsemane, and the fate of the whole universe trembled in the balance while He prayed three times, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me." Matth. 26:39. And the whole universe won its reprieve when He finally said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done." Luke 22:42.

Passing the Test

This test we all must pass in order to be safe to save. The holy Sabbath is truly a sign between ourselves and our Lord. I am astonished at the thinking of those theologians who say that there is a moral principle involved in resting, but that there is no moral principle involved on resting on God's appointed day. Surely there is confusion here. To argue that there is a moral principle involved in something that may be done for selfish or even immoral reasons, but that there is no moral principle involved in something that is done in careful regard for the expressed will of the Creator is strange indeed. To people who think in this way the Sabbath is no sign, but to us it truly is a most meaningful sign.

Let us now consider one other important element in the meaning of the Sabbath, remembering still what the title to this study is "Freedom's Test and Freedom's Sign".

Just as the Sabbath is a sign of our loyalty to our Creator, it is also a sign of the freedom that He provides for us. Let us read a scripture.

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:31-36.

We are looking at a picture of obvious confusion on this world. These men were even then under the bondage of Rome and were far from being free. How could they misunderstand the meaning of freedom?

This fact causes us to feel the need of a definition.

What is the definition of freedom?

If we put this question to young people, they are likely to tell us that freedom is the absence of restraint, the full ability to say, "I will."

But if we put the same question to the soldier in the trenches or to prisoners in chain gangs, they are likely to tell us that freedom is the absence of constraint, the full ability to say, "I will not."

Then which definition is correct?

Actually both are correct, but both are only partial definitions. Total freedom must include both the absence of restraint and the absence of constraint, both the ability to say "I will," and the ability to say, "I will not."

To be able to stop actions but not to initiate them would mean that we could only respond to the actions of others. To have the power to initiate action but not to stop it would be even worse.

It is pleasant to be able to extend the hand and shake it, if we so desire, but if the shaking cannot be stopped, that is not very pleasant. Ask the victim of Parkinson's disease.

It is nice to be able to sneeze when we need to, in order to clear the respiratory tract of some irritation, but if the sneezing cannot be stopped, a trip to the emergency room of the hospital may be required.

When our body sustains an injury, it is wonderful to see how the body cells can reproduce themselves and grow until the wound would be healed. But what if the reproduction of body cells cannot be stopped?

We have a word for that - a dreaded word for a dreadful condition - cancer.

Pagan literature is replete with stories about pagan gods who created something and then were not able to control it. The Swiss theologian Karl Barth points out that in the first chapter of Genesis, where our God is introduced to us, it is made clear that He has no such problem. He is impressively able to say "I will," and is equally able to say, "I will not."

Man plants a crop, and then is afraid to take a Sabbath rest for fear that he will lose the crop. Thus the crop becomes his master.

Man builds a house, and then is afraid to keep the Sabbath for fear of losing his house. Thus the house becomes his master.

He is in a worse condition then were the Jews to whom Christ spoke. They were in bondage to other men, but modern man is in bondage to things, surely the most pathetic of all conditions of human bondage (for things cannot commiserate with you).

God had foreseen this problem and moved to prevent it.

He instructed man, saying, "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest." Exodus 34:21, ESV.

Man might cry out in alarm,

"But what of the weather?"

Does God understand about the weather?

The answer is `Yes.'

God does understand about the weather. He understands it perfectly, but He is in control.

Modern man may cry out,

"But what about my financial obligations? Does God not know what will happen if I do not make may payments?"

The answer is, "Yes, God understands these things perfectly, but He is in control. Only those who truly believe this fact can understand and experience true freedom.

Some, like the Jews to whom Christ spoke, give evidence of being confused about freedom. They will boast of their freedom, then exhibit their shackles. They may insist that Sabbath-breaking is freedom, but then admit that the real reason for their Sabbath-breaking is fear of financial loss. They are living in fear, not freedom. To such persons the Lord of all is still saying,

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36.

There are people in the world who are not confused, and who know what freedom is. They celebrate their freedom every Sabbath in fellowship with their Creator God. They also know that the Sabbath is a sign between themselves and their Creator God, a precious emblem of their special relationship. They are living witnesses that God is alive and that He is in control. He is not afraid of anything or anybody, and that becomes true of His people who will walk calmly and steadfastly with their God through the perils of earth's last days. They will be unmoved by the clever arguments and cunning sophistries of the apostates about them. They will ". . . gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason." {5T 136}

"I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints." {EW 33}