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The Sealing Work

by

July 19 – 25, 2026

Key Text

“Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples.” Isaiah 8:16

Study Help: Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 978–982; Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 207–216

Introduction

“Those who belong to the Lord’s kingdom must work earnestly for the saving of souls. They must do their part to bind up the law and seal it among the disciples.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 332

Sunday

1 THE SEAL OF GOD IS RECOVERED

1.a. What is the seal of God and where is it found? Exodus 20:8–11. Among whom is the seal of God to be restored and how? Isaiah 8:16

 

Note: “The seal of God’s law is found in the fourth commandment. This only, of all the ten, brings to view both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It declares Him to be the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and thus shows His claim to reverence and worship above all others. Aside from this precept, there is nothing in the Decalogue to show by whose authority the law is given. When the Sabbath was changed by the papal power, the seal was taken from the law. The disciples of Jesus are called upon to restore it by exalting the Sabbath of the fourth commandment to its rightful position as the Creator’s memorial and the sign of His authority.” The Great Controversy, 452

1.b. How can we be sure that this restoration is to be carried on in the Christian Era? (Compare Isaiah 8:16, 14 with 1 Peter 2:7–9.)

Monday

2 A VISIBLE SIGN OF DISTINCTION

2.a. How were the Israelites distinguished from the idolaters after their deliverance from Egypt? Exodus 31:13–17

 

Note: “When the Lord delivered His people Israel from Egypt and committed to them His law, He taught them that by the observance of the Sabbath they were to be distinguished from idolaters. It was this that made the distinction between those who acknowledge the sovereignty of God and those who refuse to accept Him as their Creator and King.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 349

2.b. How are God’s people to be distinguished from the world today? Ezekiel 20:20

 

Note: “As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came out of Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now distinguishes God’s people as they come out from the world to enter the heavenly rest. The Sabbath is a sign of the relationship existing between God and His people, a sign that they honor His law. It distinguishes between His loyal subjects and transgressors.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 349, 350

Tuesday

3 THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

3.a. What invisible power must be working in our life so that we may receive the seal of God? Ephesians 4:30. However, what fruits must be visible? Galatians 5:22, 23

 

Note: “What is the seal of the living God, which is placed in the foreheads of His people? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes, can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption. The intelligent mind has seen the sign of the cross of Calvary in the Lord’s adopted sons and daughters. The sin of the transgression of the law of God is taken away. They have on the wedding garment, and are obedient and faithful to all God’s commands.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 968

 3.b. How does the Holy Spirit seal a person? John 16:13. And what is the truth? John 17:17; Psalm 119:142

 

Note: “The work of the Holy Spirit is to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. The world can only be warned by seeing those who believe the truth sanctified through the truth, acting upon high and holy principles, showing in a high, elevated sense, the line of demarcation between those who keep the commandments of God and those who trample them under their feet. The sanctification of the Spirit signalizes the difference between those who have the seal of God and those who keep a spurious rest day.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 980

“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already.” Ibid., Vol. 4, 1161

Wednesday

4 A SPECIAL CLASS

4.a What are the characteristics of the 144,000 sealed saints? Revelation 14:1–5, 12; Psalm 15

 

Note: “ ‘And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.’ Revelation 14:1–4. This scripture represents the character of the people of God for these last days.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 977, 978

“The mighty power of the Holy Spirit works an entire transformation in the character of the human agent, making him a new creature in Christ Jesus. When a man is filled with the Spirit, the more severely he is tested and tried, the more clearly he proves that he is a representative of Christ. The peace that dwells in the soul is seen on the countenance. The words and actions express the love of the Saviour. There is no striving for the highest place. Self is renounced. The name of Jesus is written on all that is said and done.

“We may talk of the blessings of the Holy Spirit, but unless we prepare ourselves for its reception, of what avail are our works? Are we striving with all our power to attain to the stature of men and women in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, ever pressing toward the mark set before us—the perfection of His character? When the Lord’s people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads.” The Review and Herald, June 10, 1902

 4.b.  How many conquerors will there be under the threefold message? Revelation 7:4. Why so few? Luke 13:23–25

 

Note: “The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice [of God], while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake.” Early Writings, 15

“Only those who receive the seal of the living God will have the passport through the gates of the Holy City. But there are many who take upon themselves responsibilities in connection with the work of God who are not wholehearted believers, and while they remain thus cannot receive the seal of the living God.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 970

“Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand.” The Review and Herald, March 9, 1905

Thursday

5 A CLEAR DISTINCTION

5.a. Why will many believers in the third angel’s message be left without the seal of God? Ezekiel 9:2–8; 33:31

 

Note: “Those that overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, will be the favored ones who shall receive the seal of the living God. Those whose hands are not clean, whose hearts are not pure, will not have the seal of the living God. Those who are planning sin and acting it will be passed by. Only those who, in their attitude before God, are filling the position of those who are repenting and confessing their sins in the great antitypical day of atonement, will be recognized and marked as worthy of God’s protection. The names of those who are steadfastly looking and waiting and watching for the appearing of their Saviour—more earnestly and wishfully than they who wait for the morning—will be numbered with those who are sealed. Those who, while having all the light of truth flashing upon their souls, should have works corresponding to their avowed faith, but are allured by sin, setting up idols in their hearts, corrupting their souls before God, and polluting those who unite with them in sin, will have their names blotted out of the book of life, and be left in midnight darkness, having no oil in their vessels with their lamps. ‘Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.’ Malachi 4:2

“This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 445

5.b. What is the great burden of those who will be sealed? Ezekiel 9:4. What separation must be completed before they can receive the seal of God’s approval and protection?

 

Note: “Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed! Unless they repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work and in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God’s sealing approval. They will fall in the general destruction of the wicked, represented by the work of the five men bearing slaughter weapons. Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those ‘that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done’ in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, 267

“The angel is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and young.” Ibid., Vol. 5, 505

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

  1. Why is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment so significant?
  2. What does the Sabbath reveal about those who seek to keep it holy?
  3. How does the seal of God involve more than just the seventh day?
  4. Why will many professing Sabbath keepers be sadly disappointed at the judgment bar of God?
  5. In view of this solemn message, what is our responsibility?

Copyright 1998, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Sabbathkeeping, a Test of Loyalty

by

July 12 – 18, 2026

Key Text

“Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.” Ezekiel 20:12

Study Help: The Desire of Ages, 281–289; The Great Controversy, 49–54

Introduction

“As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God.” The Desire of Ages, 288

Sunday

1 LEARNING FROM CHRIST

1.a. What is the evidence that the Sabbath was not made only for the Jews? Genesis 2:1–3; Mark 2:27 How did Christ illustrate correct (or lawful) Sabbathkeeping? Matthew 12:1–13; Luke 13:10–17

 

Note: “The Jews had so perverted the law that they made it a yoke of bondage. Their meaningless requirements had become a byword among other nations. Especially was the Sabbath hedged in by all manner of senseless restrictions. It was not to them a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honorable. The scribes and Pharisees had made its observance an intolerable burden. A Jew was not allowed to kindle a fire nor even to light a candle on the Sabbath. As a consequence, the people were dependent upon the Gentiles for many services which their rules forbade them to do for themselves. They did not reflect that if these acts were sinful, those who employed others to perform them were as guilty as if they had done the work themselves. They thought that salvation was restricted to the Jews, and that the condition of all others, being already hopeless, could be made no worse.” The Desire of Ages, 204

1.b. Explain why the Jews had no valid proof to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. Luke 6:6–11; Matthew 26:59, 60; John 15:10; John 8:46

 

Note: “The Pharisees accused Christ of breaking the Sabbath because He had healed a man upon the Sabbath day; but His words made it evident that He had not violated the command of God. He declared that they were ignorant both of the Scriptures and the power of God, and reminded them that if they had known what this meaneth, ‘I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,’ they would not have condemned the guiltless. He carried their minds back to the law and to the testimony, to the words which He Himself had spoken when enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, and revealed to them the principles of the law of God. He showed them that to relieve the suffering of either man or beast on the Sabbath day was in harmony with the commandment of God.” The Signs of the Times, January 16, 1896

“Neither the Saviour nor His followers broke the law of the Sabbath. Christ was a living representative of the law. No violation of its holy precepts was found in His life. Looking upon a nation of witnesses who were seeking occasion to condemn Him, He could say unchallenged, ‘Which of you convicteth Me of sin?’ John 8:46, R.V.” The Desire of Ages, 287

Monday

2 LEARNING FROM CHRIST’S DISCIPLES

2.a. What was the practice of the disciples whom Christ had instructed by precept and example? Luke 23:54–56. What did He further exhort them to do? Matthew 24:20

 

Note: “Man has no right nor power to substitute the first day for the seventh. He may pretend to do this; ‘nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure’ (2 Timothy 2:19). The customs and teachings of men will not lessen the claims of the divine law. God has sanctified the seventh day. That specified portion of time, set apart by God Himself for religious worship, continues as sacred today as when first hallowed by our Creator.” The Review and Herald, May 16, 1882

“Christ gave His disciples a sign of the ruin to come on Jerusalem, and He told them how to escape: ‘When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.’ This warning was given to be heeded forty years after, at the destruction of Jerusalem. The Christians obeyed the warning, and not a Christian perished in the fall of the city.” The Desire of Ages, 630

2.b. Quote more examples proving that the disciples continued keeping the Sabbath even after Christ’s resurrection. Acts 16:13; 17:2; 18:4, 11

 

Note: “In the first centuries, the true Sabbath had been kept by all Christians. They were jealous for the honor of God, and, believing that His law is immutable, they zealously guarded the sacredness of its precepts.” The Great Controversy, 52

Tuesday

3 A BREACH IN THE LAW OF GOD

3.a. During the third and fourth centuries of the Christian Era, what breach was made in the law of God? Daniel 7:25

 

Note: “In nearly every council, the Sabbath which God had instituted was pressed down a little lower, while the Sunday was correspondingly exalted. Thus, the pagan festival came finally to be honored as a divine institution, while the Bible Sabbath was pronounced a relic of Judaism.” The Great Controversy, 53

3.b. What work of repair is to be accomplished in these last days and by whom? Isaiah 58:12

 

Note: “The prophet here describes a people who, in a time of general departure from truth and righteousness, are seeking to restore the principles that are the foundation of the kingdom of God. …

“The breach made in the law at the time the Sabbath was changed by man, is to be repaired. God’s remnant people, standing before the world as reformers, are to show that the law of God is the foundation of all enduring reform and that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is to stand as a memorial of creation, a constant reminder of the power of God.” Prophets and Kings, 677, 678

Wednesday

4 REPAIRERS OF THE BREACH

4.a. Discuss the deeper meaning of “not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words” on God’s holy day. Isaiah 58:13 (Compare Exodus 20:8–11 and 1 John 3:22.)

 

Note: “All who love God should do what they can to make the Sabbath a delight, holy and honorable. They cannot do this by seeking their own pleasure in sinful, forbidden amusements. Yet they can do much to exalt the Sabbath in their families and make it the most interesting day of the week. We should devote time to interesting our children.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, 584

“Far more sacredness is attached to the Sabbath than is given it by many professed Sabbathkeepers. The Lord has been greatly dishonored by those who have not kept the Sabbath according to the commandment, either in the letter or in the spirit. He calls for a reform in the observance of the Sabbath.” Ibid., Vol. 6, 353

“Every man has been placed on trial, as were Adam and Eve in Eden. As the tree of knowledge was placed in the midst of the garden of Eden, so the Sabbath command is placed in the midst of the decalogue. In regard to the fruit of the tree of knowledge, the restriction was made, ‘Ye shall not eat of it, … lest ye die’ [Genesis 3:3]. Of the Sabbath, God said, Ye shall not defile it, but keep it holy. … As the tree of knowledge was the test of Adam’s obedience, so the fourth command is the test that God has given to prove the loyalty of all His people.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, 1106

4.b. What promises are assured to all restorers of the breach? Isaiah 58:14

 

Note: “ ‘If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; … then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.’ Isaiah 58:13, 14. To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour. And every object in nature repeats His invitation, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you Rest.’ Matthew 11:28.” The Desire of Ages, 289

Thursday

5 ENTERING INTO SPIRITUAL REST

5.a. Sabbathkeeping is an outward sign of what rest? Ezekiel 20:12; Matthew 11:28–30; Hebrews 4:3–6, 9–11

 

Note: “ ‘There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. … Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.’ Hebrews 4:9, 11. The rest here spoken of is the rest of grace, obtained by following the prescription, Labor diligently. Those who learn of Jesus His meekness and lowliness find rest in the experience of practicing His lessons. It is not in indolence, in selfish ease and pleasure-seeking, that rest is obtained. Those who are unwilling to give the Lord faithful, earnest, loving service will not find spiritual rest in this life or in the life to come. Only from earnest labor comes peace and joy in the Holy Spirit—happiness on earth and glory hereafter.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 928

5.b. What place will the Sabbath of the Lord occupy when the work of restoration is completed? Isaiah 66:23

 

Note: “When there shall be a ‘restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began’ (Acts 3:21), the creation Sabbath, the day on which Jesus lay at rest in Joseph’s tomb, will still be a day of rest and rejoicing. Heaven and earth will unite in praise, as ‘from one Sabbath to another’ (Isaiah 66:23) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful worship to God and the Lamb.” The Desire of Ages, 769, 770

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

  1. How did Christ exalt the seventh-day Sabbath when on earth?
  2. When confronted by those who claim that the early disciples kept Sunday, what Scriptural evidence must we present to them?
  3. How are we restoring the memorial of God’s creation today?
  4. What is God’s promise to the repairers of the breach?
  5. How can we truly appreciate the spiritual nature of the Sabbath?

Copyright 1998, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

The Third Angel and His Message

by

July 5 – 11, 2026

Key text

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12

Study Help: The Desire of Ages, 634–636; Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 14–22

Introduction

“Prophecy brings to view a class that, as the result of the threefold message, are keeping the commandments of God.” The Great Controversy, 437

Sunday

1 THE BEGINNING OF THE END

1.a. What messages mark the beginning of the work of restoration before the coming of Christ? Revelation 14:6–11

 

Note: “To prepare a people to stand in the day of God, a great work of reform was to be accomplished. God saw that many of His professed people were not building for eternity, and in His mercy, He was about to send a message of warning to arouse them from their stupor and lead them to make ready for the coming of the Lord. This warning is brought to view in Revelation 14.” The Great Controversy, 311

1.b. What will be the result of the proclamation of this message? Revelation 14:12

 

Note: “Though often in the midst of reproach and persecution, a constant testimony has been borne to the perpetuity of the law of God and the sacred obligation of the creation Sabbath.

“These truths, as presented in Revelation 14 in connection with ‘the everlasting gospel,’ will distinguish the church of Christ at the time of His appearing. For as the result of the threefold message it is announced: ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ And this message is the last to be given before the coming of the Lord.” The Great Controversy, 453, 454

Monday

2 A FITTING REPRESENTATION

2.a. Who are represented by the three angels? Zechariah 8:12

 

Note: “The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth’s history. No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 387

2.b. What does the third angel of Revelation 14 proclaim? Revelation 14:9–11

 

Note: “[One] class firmly held that the Lord had led them in their past experience; and as they waited and watched and prayed to know the will of God they saw that their great High Priest had entered upon another work of ministration, and, following Him by faith, they were led to see also the closing work of the church. They had a clearer understanding of the first and second angels’ messages, and were prepared to receive and give to the world the solemn warning of the third angel of Revelation 14.” The Great Controversy, 432

Tuesday

3 THE SCOPE OF THE MESSAGE

3.a. What prophetic description fits the popular churches today? 2 Timothy 3:1–5, 7. Since the law of God has been trampled underfoot, what is the scope of the third angel’s message in the world?

 

Note: “The Lord God of heaven will not send upon the world His judgments for disobedience and transgression until He has sent His watchmen to give the warning. He will not close up the period of probation until the message shall be more distinctly proclaimed. The law of God is to be magnified; its claims must be presented in their true, sacred character, that the people may be brought to decide for or against the truth. Yet the work will be cut short in righteousness. The message of Christ’s righteousness is to sound from one end of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the glory of God, which closes the work of the third angel.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 19

3.b. How will history be repeated? Acts 2:21

 

Note: “God has always given men warning of coming judgments. Those who had faith in His message for their time, and who acted out their faith, in obedience to His commandments, escaped the judgments that fell upon the disobedient and unbelieving. The word came to Noah, ‘Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me.’ Noah obeyed and was saved. The message came to Lot, ‘Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city.’ Genesis 7:1; 19:14. Lot placed himself under the guardianship of the heavenly messengers, and was saved. So, Christ’s disciples were given warning of the destruction of Jerusalem. Those who watched for the sign of the coming ruin, and fled from the city, escaped the destruction. So now we are given warning of Christ’s second coming and of the destruction to fall upon the world. Those who heed the warning will be saved.” The Desire of Ages, 634

Wednesday

4 THE LAST MESSAGE AND MESSENGERS

4.a. What is the object of the message of Revelation 14 within the church? Malachi 3:2; Revelation 3:18–20

 

Note: “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.” The Great Controversy, 425

4.b. What is the evidence that this message is the last warning to be given to the world before the end? Revelation 14:14, 15

 

Note: “When Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of the atonement, He committed to His servants the last message of mercy to be given to the world. Such is the warning of the third angel of Revelation 14. Immediately following its proclamation, the Son of man is seen by the prophet coming in glory to reap the harvest of the earth.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, 273

“We are nearing the close of this earth’s history. We have before us a great work—the closing work of giving the last warning message to a sinful world. There are men who will be taken from the plow, from the vineyard, from various other branches of work, and sent forth by the Lord to give this message to the world.

“The world is out of joint. As we look at the picture, the outlook seems discouraging. But Christ greets with hopeful assurance the very men and women who cause us discouragement. In them He sees qualifications that will enable them to take a place in His vineyard. If they will constantly be learners, through His providence He will make them men and women fitted to do a work that is not beyond their capabilities; through the impartation of the Holy Spirit, He will give them power of utterance.” Evangelism, 48

Thursday

5 NO SECOND PROBATION

5.a. How are we deciding our own destiny as we hear the third angel’s message? Deuteronomy 30:19

 

Note: “There is no work in our world so great, so sacred, and so glorious, no work that God honors so much, as this gospel work. The message presented at this time is the last message of mercy for a fallen world. Those who have the privilege of hearing this message, and who persist in refusing to heed the warning, cast away their last hope of salvation. There will be no second probation.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 19

“There will be a sharp conflict between those who are loyal to God and those who cast scorn upon His law. Reverence for God’s law has been subverted. The religious leaders are teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. As it was in the days of ancient Israel, so it is in this age of the world. But because of the prevalence of disloyalty and transgression, will those who have reverenced the law of God now cherish less respect for it? Will they unite with the powers of earth to make it void? The loyal will not be carried away by the current of evil. They will not throw contempt on that which God has set apart as holy. They will not follow Israel’s example of forgetfulness; they will call to remembrance God’s dealings with His people in all ages, and will walk in the way of His commandments.

“The test comes to everyone. There are only two sides. On which side are you?” Ibid., Vol. 8, 120

5.b. What is the loud voice of the third angel’s message? Acts 2:3, 4, 17. How can we take part in the promised blessing, and what is the next important event? Acts 3:19, 20; Hebrews 9:28

 

Note: “The Spirit which characterized that wonderful meeting on the Day of Pentecost is waiting to manifest its power upon the men who are now standing between the living and the dead as ambassadors for God. The power which stirred the people so mightily in the 1844 movement will again be revealed. The third angel’s message will go forth, not in whispered tones, but with a loud voice.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 252

“It is ‘unto them that look for Him’ that Christ is to ‘appear the second time without sin unto salvation.’ Hebrews 9:28.” The Great Controversy, 315

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

  1. What is to distinguish Christ’s true church at His coming?
  2. Who is the third angel, and what is his message?
  3. How is Bible history soon to be repeated?
  4. What responsibilities rest upon all who hear this vital message?
  5. What should strengthen us in sharing the third angel’s message?

Copyright 1998, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

A Work of Restoration

by

The Third Angel’s Message

June 28 – July 4, 2026

Key Text

“And He who sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ ” Revelation 21:5

Study Help: Prophets and Kings, 677, 678; Selected Messages, Book 1, 236–241

Introduction

“In the time of the end, every divine institution is to be restored.” Prophets and Kings, 678

Sunday

1 ALL THINGS MADE NEW

1.a. What is God’s purpose for our fallen world—the one world in rebellion? Luke 19:10; Matthew 19:29

 

Note: “Jesus became a man that He might mediate between man and God, … that He might restore to man the original mind which he lost in Eden through Satan’s alluring temptation.” That I May Know Him, 291

“We can see in the cross of Calvary what it has cost the Son of God to bring salvation to a fallen race. As the sacrifice in behalf of man was complete, so the restoration of man from the defilement of sin must be thorough and complete.” The Review and Herald, August 21, 1888

“Satan, by means of his success in turning man aside from the path of obedience, became ‘the god of this world.’ 2 Corinthians 4:4. The dominion that once was Adam’s passed to the usurper. But the Son of God proposed to come to this earth to pay the penalty of sin, and thus not only redeem man, but recover the dominion forfeited. It is of this restoration that Micah prophesied.” Prophets and Kings, 682

“Whatever was lost in the fall of Adam is more than restored in redemption.” The Review and Herald, June 7, 1887

1.b. Describe the specific work of God’s people in preparation for Christ’s soon return. Revelation 3:18–21; James 1:21–25; Revelation 16:15

 

Note: “In the closing work of God in the earth, the standard of His law will be again exalted. False religion may prevail, iniquity may abound, the love of many may wax cold, the cross of Calvary may be lost sight of, and darkness, like the pall of death, may spread over the world; the whole force of the popular current may be turned against the truth; plot after plot may be formed to overthrow the people of God; but in the hour of greatest peril the God of Elijah will raise up human instrumentalities to bear a message that will not be silenced.” Prophets and Kings, 186, 187

Monday

2 RESTORATION OF THE LAW

2.a. As far as the law of God is concerned, in what way did Christ start the work of restoration? Isaiah 42:21; Matthew 5:17–20; 22:36–40

 

Note: “ ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.’ Here Jesus refutes the charge of the Pharisees. His mission to the world is to vindicate the sacred claims of that law which they charge Him with breaking. If the law of God could have been changed or abrogated, then Christ need not have suffered the consequences of our transgression. He came to explain the relation of the law to man, and to illustrate its precepts by His own life of obedience.” The Desire of Ages, 307, 308

2.b. Give two examples of how Christ sought to restore the law of God. Matthew 15:3–6; John 7:19. What respect did Christ show for the writings of the Old Testament prophets? Luke 11:28; John 5:46, 47

 

Note: “Christ Himself had given both the moral and the ceremonial law. He did not come to destroy confidence in His own instruction. It was because of His great reverence for the law and the prophets that He sought to break through the wall of traditional requirements which hemmed in the Jews. While He set aside their false interpretations of the law, He carefully guarded His disciples against yielding up the vital truths committed to the Hebrews.” The Desire of Ages, 307

Tuesday

3 CALLED TO ESTABLISH THE LAW

3.a. What law is to be established by Christ’s followers under the New Dispensation? Jeremiah 31:31–33; Romans 2:17–27; 3:19, 31

 

Note: “The Saviour’s life of obedience maintained the claims of the law; it proved that the law could be kept in humanity, and showed the excellence of character that obedience would develop. All who obey as He did are likewise declaring that the law is ‘holy, and just, and good.’ Romans 7:12. On the other hand, all who break God’s commandments are sustaining Satan’s claim that the law is unjust, and cannot be obeyed. Thus, they second the deceptions of the great adversary, and cast dishonor upon God. They are the children of the wicked one, who was the first rebel against God’s law. To admit them into heaven would again bring in the elements of discord and rebellion, and imperil the well-being of the universe. No man who willfully disregards one principle of the law shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Desire of Ages, 309

3.b. Though the law cannot justify (pardon) us, why do we nonetheless need it? Romans 3:20; 7:7

 

Note: “When the law was proclaimed from Sinai, God made known to men the holiness of His character, that by contrast they might see the sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour. It would do this as its principles were applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This work it is still to do. In the life of Christ, the principles of the law are made plain; and as the Holy Spirit of God touches the heart, as the light of Christ reveals to men their need of His cleansing blood and His justifying righteousness, the law is still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.” The Desire of Ages, 308

Wednesday

4 THE ARK OF THE COVENANT IN HEAVEN

4.a. What does the earthly sanctuary with its belongings (Hebrews 9:3, 4) reveal concerning the contents of the ark of the covenant in the heavenly sanctuary? Hebrews 8:1–5

 

Note: “Sacrilegious minds and hearts have thought they were mighty enough to change the times and laws of Jehovah; but, safe in the archives of heaven, in the ark of God, are the original commandments, written upon the two tables of stone.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 972

4.b. After the disappointment of 1844, what light did the honest searchers of truth receive concerning the heavenly sanctuary and its contents? Revelation 11:19 (compare Exodus 25:8–10, 16; 31:18)

 

Note: “When the temple of God was opened in heaven, the ark of His testament was seen. Within the holy of holies, in the sanctuary in heaven, the divine law is sacredly enshrined—the law that was spoken by God Himself amid the thunders of Sinai and written with His own finger on the tables of stone.

“The law of God in the sanctuary in heaven is the great original, of which the precepts inscribed upon the tables of stone and recorded by Moses in the Pentateuch were an unerring transcript. Those who arrived at an understanding of this important point were thus led to see the sacred, unchanging character of the divine law. They saw, as never before, the force of the Saviour’s words: ‘Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.’ Matthew 5:18. The law of God, being a revelation of His will, a transcript of His character, must forever endure, ‘as a faithful witness in heaven.’ Not one command has been annulled; not a jot or tittle has been changed.” The Great Controversy, 433, 434

Thursday

5 THE MEASURING PROCESS

5.a. To what work should we pay much attention since the heavenly sanctuary has been opened to our understanding in these last days? Revelation 11:1; Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14

 

Note: “Here is the work going on, measuring the temple and its worshipers to see who will stand in the last day. Those who stand fast shall have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. When we are doing our work remember there is One that is watching the spirit in which we are doing it. Shall we not bring the Saviour into our everyday lives, into our secular work and domestic duties? Then in the name of God we want to leave behind everything that is not necessary, all gossiping or unprofitable visiting, and present ourselves as servants of the living God.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 972

5.b. What is the rod by which we are measured? Romans 2:12; James 2:10–12. What call comes to every sinner while Christ is in the sanctuary? Isaiah 55:6, 7; Hebrews 7:25

 

Note: “The grand judgment is taking place, and has been going on for some time. Now the Lord says, Measure the temple and the worshipers thereof. Remember when you are walking the streets about your business, God is measuring you.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 972

“In all our acts of true devotion, we fix our eye of faith upon our Advocate, who is standing between man and the eternal throne, waiting to meet our every effort, and by His Spirit assist us to a more perfect knowledge of God.” Ibid., 948

Friday

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS

  1. In what aspect of Christ’s work are we to take part?
  2. How did Christ vindicate the authority of His law while on earth?
  3. Name some vital points which we should understand about God’s law.
  4. What must we realize about the ark of the covenant in heaven?
  5. In what sense should our attention continually focus on that ark?

Copyright 1998, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Recipe – Saucy Vegetable Tofu Pasta

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Whole Wheat Pasta

Alternative pasta is everywhere. Brown rice spaghetti, quinoa, chickpea, spelt, buckwheat, red lentil pasta, corn rotini, and seemingly endless varieties of specialty, gluten-free and nutrient-dense pastas crowd the pasta aisle, overshadowing traditional pasta with colorful noodles and healthy claims.

However, when it comes to picking a nutritious pasta, whole wheat pasta may be your best go-to. While traditional pasta is made from semolina flour, whole wheat pasta uses whole grains to create the dough and resulting shapes, making it more nutrient-dense.

Whole wheat pasta is any pasta made with whole wheat and contains the entire wheat kernel—bran, germ, and endosperm. Unlike refined white pasta, which lacks these elements, whole wheat pasta preserves essential nutrients like fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and iron. Its abundant fiber content fosters digestive well-being and a satisfying feeling of fullness. Whole wheat pasta is rich in dietary fiber, aids in digestion, and contains essential nutrients such as folate, thiamine, B6, magnesium, and iron, all crucial for energy production and overall health.

Additionally, whole wheat pasta has a lower glycemic index than refined flour pasta, and can help manage blood sugar levels.

Like any ingredient, whole wheat pasta can be served in ways to make eating and enjoying it even healthier. Incorporating colorful, nutrient-rich vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers can increase vitamins and antioxidants. Choosing lean protein sources such as legumes and tofu further boosts nutritional value.

Source: realsimple.com/is-whole-wheat-pasta-healthy-8348940

Recipe – Saucy Vegetable Tofu Pasta

Ingredients

8 oz. whole wheat spiral pasta

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 large green or red pepper, coarsely chopped

1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise, and sliced

1 Tbs. olive oil or water

1 16 oz. firm tofu, drained, and cut into ½-inch cubes

2 cups spaghetti sauce

Process

Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large skillet, sauté the onion, pepper, and zucchini in oil or water until crisp tender. Stir in the pasta, tofu, and spaghetti sauce, heating through, adding preferred seasonings as desired.

A True Prophet Says –

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“that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.”

 
I have applied the tests of a prophet many times to Mrs. White. A true prophet must pass all the tests, not failing even a single one. Mrs. White passed all the tests of a prophet, so I believe that she is a true prophet of God.

Confusion

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit.” 1 John 4:1, first part

The Greek text could also be translated “Beloved, stop believing every spirit.”

The language John uses indicates that people are being deceived because of who they listen to.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

Obviously, when you look at the context, John is addressing a problem occurring in the church at that time.

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They [people teaching these false doctrines] are of the world. Therefore, they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.” Verses 2–5

A tremendous amount of confusion exists among Adventists concerning the meaning of this test, expressed not just in their sermons, but in their books and published materials.

Pleasing God

“So then, those that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8. Did Jesus please God or not?

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ ” Matthew 3:16, 17

Matthew 3 chronicles the beginning of Christ’s ministry. Matthew 17 is near the end of His ministry and His life.

“While he [Peter] was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’ ” Matthew 17:5

The Bible tells us that both at the beginning and at the end of Jesus’ ministry, God was pleased with His Son. So, how was He able to please God?

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” John 8:29

Jesus always did what pleased His Father and as His children, this should also be our goal, our spiritual condition in this life. Only then can our guardian angels, our recording angels, write on our pages in the book of life, that we always sought to do and did do those things that please Jesus.

In the Flesh

The Father was well pleased with His Son. Jesus knew it. Jesus came to this world in human flesh, but not in the flesh Paul refers to in Romans 8:8.

In this context, Paul means that being in the flesh is having a carnal mind.

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:7, 8

“Flesh” and “carnal mind” are used interchangeably in the Bible, meaning our natural, sinful nature. Those who have a carnal mind—those who are governed by their natural, sinful nature—cannot keep God’s law and therefore, cannot please Him.

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Verse 9

Did Jesus keep God’s law? Yes, He did. And by keeping the law, Jesus pleased God. Man, however, because of his sinful nature and inherent selfishness, cannot by himself keep the law, and so he cannot please God.

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:10

Two Meanings: Carnal Mind or Mortal Body

The expression in the flesh can mean two different things. Romans 8 says that if you have a carnal mind, you are at enmity against God; you cannot keep the law of God, and therefore, do not please God. But the expression in the flesh can be used in a different way and Paul uses it in this way, too.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.” Philippians 1:21, 22

“For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.” Verses 23, 24

In this context, Paul’s living in the flesh is his human body, not a carnal mind; he is living in a physical, mortal body.

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14

In order for Christ to die as our Saviour, He had to have a mortal body, but what He did not have—what He never had—was a carnal mind. He came in a mortal body of flesh, but He did not have the mind of flesh (sinfulness) which is ours by heredity.

A Problem in the Church

A heresy arose in apostolic times, becoming a major problem in the early Christian church—Docetism and Gnosticism.

Docetism’s basic idea is that Christ only appeared to have a body. He was an illusion, a phantom, not a man at all. He was a purely spiritual being and therefore, could not have experienced human suffering nor could He die.

Gnosticism held that Jesus was only the literal son of Joseph, but that He was selected by God at His baptism to be the Messiah because of His piety and obedience to the law. Some gnostics believed He was just a mystical, spiritual figure, neither human nor divine, downplaying or outright denying His death and resurrection.

During his first imprisonment in Rome, Paul cautioned the believers in Colossi against docetic doctrine in Colossians 2:4, 8, 9, and 18.

Peter voiced an even stronger warning about it.

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” 2 Peter 2:1–3

Jude 4 refers to the docetic heresy and the Nicolaitans of Revelation 2 were gnostics.

“When Jesus took human nature, and became in fashion as a man, He possessed all the human organism. His necessities were the necessities of a man. He had bodily wants to be supplied, bodily weariness to be relieved. By prayer to the Father He was braced for duty and for trial.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 1130

“In contemplating the incarnation of Christ in humanity, we stand baffled before an unfathomable mystery that the human mind cannot comprehend. The more we reflect upon it, the more amazing does it appear. How wide is the contrast between the divinity of Christ and the helpless infant in Bethlehem’s manger! How can we span the distance between the mighty God and a helpless child? And yet the Creator of worlds, He in whom was the fullness of the Godhead bodily, was manifest in the helpless babe in the manger. Far higher than any of the angels, equal with the Father in dignity and glory, and yet wearing the garb of humanity! Divinity and humanity were mysteriously combined, and man and God became one. It is in this union that we find the hope of our fallen race.” Ibid., Vol. 7A, 443, 444

Clearly, Mrs. White confesses that Jesus did come in the flesh, is a true prophet, and not a deceiver (see 2 John 1).

“There is no one who can explain the mystery of the incarnation of Christ. Yet we know that He came to this earth and lived as a man among men. The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty, yet Christ and the Father are one. The Deity did not sink under the agonizing torture of Calvary, yet it is nonetheless true that ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ ” Ibid., Vol. 5, 1129, 1130

Be Warned

We have been warned not to set Christ before the people as a person who had the propensities of sin.

“Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam. The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him; he was in the image of God. He could fall, and he did fall through transgressing. Because of sin his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience [we are born with inherent propensities of disobedience]. But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God. He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity.” Ibid., Vol. 7A, 447

Never at any moment was there in Jesus Christ an evil propensity. “He was assailed with temptations in the wilderness, as Adam was assailed with temptations in Eden.” Ibid.

Two Directions

There are two directions that theologians go and both end up in extremes.

Conservative Adventists tend to contradict what Mrs. White said. They say that Christ was born with sinful flesh, the propensity to sin, but He overcame anyway. That position is directly contrary to the previous Spirit of Prophecy quotations. These people however do believe that it’s necessary to overcome sin.

The other extreme is to say Christ wasn’t really like us and so we cannot be expected to be really like Him and so you’re saved by justification alone.

People tend to go from one extreme to the other and both extremes are directly contrary to what Mrs. White wrote. We need to have some clarity about this and Mrs. White has tried to give us clarity if we will study what she wrote very carefully.

“Avoid every question in relation to the humanity of Christ which is liable to be misunderstood. Truth lies close to the track of presumption. In treating upon the humanity of Christ, you need to guard strenuously every assertion, lest your words be taken to mean more than they imply, and thus you lose or dim the clear perceptions of His humanity as combined with divinity. His birth was a miracle of God; for, said the angel, ‘Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.’ Luke 1:31–35.” Ibid., Vol. 5, 1128

That Holy Thing

“These words do not refer to any human being, except to the Son of the infinite God. Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human minds that a taint of, or inclination to, corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to corruption. He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted, yet He is called ‘that holy thing.’ ” Ibid.

Mary gave birth to that “holy thing.” Jesus was born holy [in nature and character] and in human flesh [a mortal body]. That cannot be said of any other human being.

“It is a mystery that is left unexplained to mortals that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet be without sin. The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a mystery. That which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every human being be warned from the ground of making Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves; for it cannot be.” Ibid., 1128, 1129

There are conservative Adventist preachers who want to make Christ just like us. This is dangerous rhetoric. Christ cannot be just like us and be that holy thing, too. It was necessary that He be that holy thing and it was necessary that Jesus had holy flesh. If He did not have holy flesh, He could not be our Saviour.

“In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: ‘Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,” says the Lord; “and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,” says the Lord, “and work; for I am with you,” says the Lord of hosts: ‘according to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear.’ ” Haggai 2:1–5

“ ‘For thus says the Lord of hosts: “Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,” says the Lord of hosts. “The silver is Mine, and the gold in Mine,” says the Lord of hosts. “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,” says the Lord of hosts. “And in this place I will give peace,” says the Lord of hosts.’ … Verses 6–9

“ ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying, ‘If one carries holy meat [holy flesh] in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?’ ” ’ Then the priests answered and said, ‘No.’

“And Haggai said, ‘If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?’ So the priests answered and said, ‘It shall be unclean.’ Then Haggai answered and said, ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.’ ” Verses 11–14

Mrs. White writes concerning these verses, “This is a parable. The sacrifice spoken of as holy flesh, was a representation of Christ, who was the foundation of the Jewish economy, and who is ever to be regarded as the One who makes possible the purification of man from sin.” Seventh-day Adventist Commentary, Vol. 4, 1176

Christ’s life was offered on Calvary as a holy, unblemished sacrifice. Being holy and unblemished is what made it possible for Him to be our Saviour. However, the devil tried to prevent Jesus from developing this perfected holiness that fit Him to be our sufficient sacrifice. Be mindful of the fact that every sacrifice in the typical service had to be perfect and unblemished. Had not Christ been holy and unblemished, His sacrifice could not have been sufficient to pay the debt for our sins.

“In every possible way Satan sought to prevent Jesus from developing a perfect childhood, a faultless manhood, a holy ministry, and an unblemished sacrifice. But he was defeated.” Ibid., Vol. 5, 1130

Christ’s Humiliation

“Think of Christ’s humiliation. He took upon Himself fallen, suffering human nature, degraded, and defiled by sin. He took our sorrows, bearing our grief and shame. He endured all the temptations wherewith man is beset. He united humanity with divinity: a divine spirit dwelt in a temple of flesh.” Ibid., Vol. 4, 1147

For the people who believe that Jesus had sinful flesh [sinful nature], the following is the most powerful statement found in the Spirit of Prophecy that they believe absolutely proves their case.

“He took upon Him fallen, suffering human nature, degraded and defiled by sin.”

But the context for this statement is found in the first part of the paragraph. It says, “Think of Christ’s humiliation.” So, let’s look at Christ’s humiliation.

“Throughout His life on earth He had walked in the light of God’s presence. When in conflict with men who were inspired by the very spirit of Satan, He could say, ‘He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.’ John 8:29. But now He seemed to be shut out from the light of God’s sustaining presence. Now He was numbered with transgressors. The guilt of fallen humanity He must bear. Upon Him who knew no sin must be laid the iniquity of us all.” The Desire of Ages, 685

“Christ was now standing in a different attitude from that in which He had ever stood before.” Ibid., 686

Praying the third time in Gethsemane, “Jesus sought again His retreat, and fell prostrate, overcome by the horror of a great darkness. The humanity of the Son of God trembled in that trying hour. He prayed not now for His disciples that their faith might not fail, but for His own tempted, agonized soul. The awful moment had come—that moment which was to decide the destiny of the world. The fate of humanity trembled in the balance. Christ might even now refuse to drink the cup apportioned to guilty man. It was not yet too late. He might wipe the bloody sweat from His brow, and leave man to perish in his iniquity.” Ibid., 690

Christ could have wiped the bloody sweat from His brow, stood, and returned to His Father. He had holy flesh. Had He had sinful flesh, He would have been unable to return to heaven. But because He was holy and undefiled, He could have gone back to heaven right then.

“He might say, Let the transgressor receive the penalty of his sin, and I will go back to My Father. Will the Son of God drink the bitter cup of humiliation and agony?” Ibid.

Had Jesus turned His back on the world and returned to heaven, we would have been lost.

The Bitter Cup

Christ had no sin, no guilt of His own, but in order to save this world, it was necessary for Him to bear our sins. The sins of every man, woman, and child were laid upon Him like a dark, heavy coat. This is the bitter cup.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4–6

“Will the Son of God drink the bitter cup of humiliation and agony? Will the innocent suffer the consequences of the curse of sin, to save the guilty? The words fall tremblingly from the pale lips of Jesus, ‘O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.’

“Three times has He uttered that prayer. Three times has humanity shrunk from the last, crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before the world’s Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He accepts His baptism of blood, that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He has left the courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression. And He will not turn from His mission. He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin. His prayer now breathes only submission: ‘If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.’

“Having made the decision, He fell dying to the ground … .” The Desire of Ages, 693

Christ’s acceptance of my sin, your sin, the sins of the whole world was His humiliation, the bitter cup He must drink to the very dregs.

Power Given

“The worlds unfallen and the heavenly angels had watched with intense interest as the conflict drew to its close. Satan and his confederacy of evil, the legions of apostasy, watched intently this great crisis in the work of redemption. The powers of good and evil waited to see what answer would come to Christ’s thrice-repeated prayer. Angels had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, but this might not be. No way of escape was found for the Son of God. In this awful crisis, when everything was at stake, when the mysterious cup trembled in the hand of the sufferer, the heavens opened, a light shone forth amid the stormy darkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty angel who stands in God’s presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came to the side of Christ. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ’s hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the Father’s love. He came to give power to the divine-human suppliant. He pointed Him to the open heavens, telling Him of the souls that would be saved as the result of His sufferings. He assured Him that His Father is greater and more powerful than Satan, that His death would result in the utter discomfiture of Satan, and that the kingdom of this world would be given to the saints of the Most High. He told Him that He would see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied, for He would see a multitude of the human race saved, eternally saved. …

“A heavenly peace rested upon His bloodstained face. He had borne that which no human being could ever bear; for He had tasted the sufferings of death for every man.” Ibid., 694

We Are Responsible

Christ accepted the humiliation of mankind’s degraded, sinful nature and it killed Him. Yes, they drove nails into His hands and feet, pressed a crown of thorns deep into His brow, pierced His side with a spear; and as He hung on the cross, it became more difficult to breathe by the hour. All these things would have killed a mortal man, but they did not kill Christ. We did that. Our sin and guilt separated Him, just as it does us, from His Father and He died of a broken heart. He was slain by the sin of the world.

The devil claimed the human race as his own, saying that even God Himself could not take it back. But Jesus Christ came and did what the devil said could not be done. Mrs. White says that Christ’s incarnation in human flesh, a man, but still God, His ability to die and redeem all of mankind back from Satan was, is, and always will remain a mystery. A mystery that even the angels cannot understand or explain. A mystery that the righteous will study throughout eternity, but never fully understand, though its meaning will be opened to us more and more. (See The Signs of the Times, July 30, 1896.)

Jesus Christ came to this world in the flesh, in a human body, to be our Saviour, to live the life of humanity and to pay the price for our sins. Fallen, degraded, hopeless as we are, Jesus has provided the only way out of this world. He is able to save to the uttermost everyone who comes to God through Him.

A true prophet teaches that Christ came in the flesh to be our Saviour. Mrs. White tells us that even Satan will one day know that he is, and has been all along, powerless to destroy those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. Whatever the situation, go to Jesus. Confess that you cannot trust yourself, that you are powerless to overcome your selfishness and sinfulness alone. Place your complete trust in the One who saves “to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.” Choose to obey Him and to always do those things that please Him. Paul said that Jesus came into this world to save sinners. He came to save you and me.

“Our Redeemer made the greatest possible sacrifice for the human race. Thus, He has shown the estimate He places on us. Do you desire to work so as best to please him?” The Review and Herald, July 11, 1899

Pastor John J. Grosboll is the Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be reached by email at historic@stepstolife.org or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

The Spark Plug Molecule

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Camping in a place surrounded by nature while relaxing our eyes, gazing at the horizon, and feeling the cool breeze caressing our faces has a calming physiological effect on the body, mind, and spirit. This is all thanks to an unseen, yet powerful agent: fresh air.

The atmosphere, which contains all the breathable oxygen for humans and the natural world living on the surface of earth, could be described as a less dense version of water. God called it the expansion of heavens. Genesis describes how God spoke and separated the water from the water, leaving a gap of air in the middle. This is the water form we breathe.

The oxygen present in the air we breathe is managed by life forms on Earth that break down water molecules and release oxygen as a gas. These oxygen managers are trees and plants.

Dr. Gary Samuelson tells us about his studies on this topic as follows. All plant cells that perform photosynthesis use the sun’s light energy to split water molecules. The sunlight captured by the plant cells provides the energy to separate two oxygen atoms from the water molecules and transform them into a free radical called superoxide (O2*-). The hydrogen atoms from the water are stored for later use. In a cascade of energy release, the superoxide is transformed into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), or what we commonly know as oxygenated water, and finally into a molecule of oxygen gas (O2). The energy released from this cascade is used by plant cells to bond hydrogen atoms to carbon atoms to form carbohydrates (sugars), fats, and oils. These are stored and used as fuel. Note that superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and the oxygen produced by photosynthesis are components of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which we call redox-signaling molecules. Plants also use these redox signaling molecules, almost exclusively, to help detect, repair, and replace their own damaged cells and tissues, and to power their immune systems. The resulting oxygen gas produced by plant cells is then released into the atmosphere.

Redox-signaling molecules produced in plant cells also help regulate the rate of sugar and fat production within these cells. Too much hydrogen peroxide, for example, is produced when plants are in full sun. This excess hydrogen peroxide is designed to deactivate the machinery and slow down photosynthesis, so as not to overwhelm the plant. In the shade, when the hydrogen peroxide level drops, photosynthesis speeds up again. Therefore, redox-signaling molecules are also used to regulate photosynthesis in plants.

When we eat and digest plants, our bodies use the sugars and fats we obtain from them as fuel. The metabolism of sugar within our cells, combined with the oxygen we breathe, performs the same chemical process in reverse to produce energy (ATP) and also produces ROS such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. These molecules recombine, and the end products are water and carbon dioxide (the building blocks for plants), completing the great cycle. In our cells, these redox signaling molecules also help regulate our metabolism and detect, repair, and replace damaged cells. The existence of redox signaling molecules in living cells is as old as oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere. Our bodies require the oxygen, sugars, and fats produced by plants.

In the field of medicine, therapies that utilize oxygen or other types of oxidants and oxidative processes are now emerging. Oxidative therapies include hypersaturation of the body with oxygen using hyperbaric chambers, ozone therapies, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, or therapies that stimulate the production of ROS in cells, such as pulsed electromagnetic therapies and infrared light therapies. All of these therapies have the ultimate effect of increasing the amount of ROS produced within living cells. Practitioners are reporting high success rates with these therapies, especially in wound healing, tissue regeneration, and fighting infections. Muscle exercise also has the effect of increasing the amount of ROS created by muscle cells, with largely beneficial healing effects. James Watson, Ph.D. (who won a Nobel Prize for his work in discovering the structure of DNA) has dedicated his life to finding ways to stimulate the production of ROS in cells. He calls ROS “the elixir of life against stressed cells.” Cellular ROS holds the cure for diabetes, many types of cancer, and dementia.

The question has been raised: Is ROS an absolute requirement for tissue regeneration? In order to find out, researchers took a look at the regeneration of tadpole tails. Tadpoles have the ability to regenerate their tails if they are cut off. Tadpoles are also partially transparent. This allows ROS to be seen inside the tadpole when revealed with special fluorescent dyes. In experiments, it was observed that ROS is super-concentrated along the growth edges of the regenerating tail. When ROS was artificially removed by applying a strong antioxidant to the tail (vitamin C), the tail did not regrow.

We could also ask the question, is ROS an absolute requirement within living cells? It is now understood that in the place where proteins are manufactured within the cell (the endoplasmic reticulum), ROS is used to help fold and build proteins correctly. A lack of ROS within the cell has been shown to ultimately cause proteins to be incorrectly constructed, leading to disease. Proteins are the micromachines that make the cell function; they contain bonds (disulfide bonds) that can only be broken and reformed by the action of ROS. Without ROS, these micromachines cannot function.

The famous master antioxidant in the cell, glutathione (GSH), contains a hydrogen sulfide (SH) thiol that is sensitive to ROS. ROS can extract the hydrogen and cause the sticky sulfur bonds in two GSH molecules to combine to form oxidized glutathione (GSSG, the SS indicates the disulfide bond). The oxidation of glutathione when it’s in its super suit (called glutathione peroxidase) requires ROS. This is true for other important players in the cell, such as thioredoxin. Without ROS, these super machines cannot function.

Therefore, it turns out that ROS creates homeostatic balance and is absolutely essential for the proper functioning of the cell in many areas and on many occasions, especially in the machinery that repairs and regenerates cells and tissues. It was amazing to discover the power of ROS, which is important in all aspects of cellular life, from photosynthesis to sugar metabolism, the detection, repair, and replacement of damaged cells, tissue regeneration, immune activation, and protein production.

God is definitely wonderful and wise. He gave us water to drink and fresh air to breathe. Maybe we need a little spark jump to light up our day today.

Sources: drgarysamuelson.com

Temptation

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What is the toughest temptation you have ever faced? Or what was the worst temptation you yielded to?

When I was a young adult, I made a decision about how I wanted to live my life. It was neither a wise decision nor a spiritually-healthy one. Of course, God didn’t want me to live that life, so He reminded me of how my mother had raised me and the things I used to believe. Sadly, I was determined to live my life my way, and told God outright even if it meant losing heaven, it was my life to live and to leave me alone.

Thankfully, He didn’t listen to me. And even more thankfully, He gave me a God-fearing mother. I know that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, but the prayer of a mother is the most powerful force on this Earth. The strength of a mother’s prayer asking God for mercy and grace on behalf of her child can bring about miraculous change.

My mother not only prayed for me, but she asked all of her friends to pray for me. I had an entire army of prayer warriors with my mother as their captain. It is because of her unceasing prayers on my behalf—because God knows I wasn’t praying for myself—that I’m able to share this experience with you. So, mothers, take courage, your prayers are powerful and God hears them.

“The power of a mother’s prayers cannot be too highly estimated. She who kneels beside her son and daughter through the vicissitudes of childhood, through the perils of youth, will never know till the judgment the influence of her prayers upon the life of her children. If she is connected by faith with the Son of God, the mother’s tender hand may hold back her son from the power of temptation, may restrain her daughter from indulging in sin. When passion is warring for the mastery, the power of love, the restraining, earnest, determined influence of the mother, may balance the soul on the side of right.” The Adventist Home, 266

“The strongest temptation cannot excuse sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel anyone to do evil. Satan attacks us at our weak points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpected the assault, God has provided help for us, and in His strength, we may conquer.” Amazing Grace, 254

I know that God allows us all to make our own choices, and sometimes those choices, like mine, go completely against what He intends for our lives. We must be vigilant, because the devil knows just how to tempt us to sin. We must reach out to God for the strength to resist not only Satan’s temptations but the willfulness of our own nature.

“If you cannot control your impulses, your emotions, as you may desire, you can control the will, and thus an entire change will be wrought in your life. When you yield up your will to Christ, your life is hid with Christ in God. It is allied to the power which is above all principalities and powers. You have a strength from God that holds you fast to His strength; and a new life, even the life of faith, is possible to you.” Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol. 1, 123

Glaucus Atlanticus – Blue Dragon Sea Slug

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The glaucus atlanticus or the blue dragon sea slug is a brilliant blue with silver color and a potent sting. More commonly known as the blue dragon, it is a soft-bodied marine mollusk, approximately 1.2 inches long. It lives in the warm temperate, tropical waters found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, but can also be sporadically found along the coasts of South Africa, Australia, Bermuda, and the Gulf of Mexico.

It lives in the open ocean, often found floating upside down on the ocean’s surface. It remains buoyant by swallowing air bubbles which are stored in a gas-filled sac in its stomach. It is camouflaged against the surface of the water using a process called countershading. Its blue blends with the ocean surface when viewed from above. The silver blends with the light from above. It is not a strong swimmer, depending on winds and ocean currents. A group of blue dragons is called a blue fleet. If found stranded or deceased on the coast, it can still be a hazard to touch or pick up.

The blue dragon’s main diet is venomous creatures like the Portuguese man o’ war. Amazingly, it is immune to the venom of its prey. It absorbs the stinging cells from these organisms and stores them in specialized sacs. This enables the blue dragon to deliver a potent sting and makes it dangerous to touch. Its sting is extremely painful and causes nausea and vomiting along with symptoms that affect the skin at the point of the sting. In areas where the dragon is sighted, authorities prohibit swimming to protect swimmers.

The blue dragon is a stunning creature to the eye, but like so many things in this world that attract us, it can end in pain and suffering.

Sources: biologyinsights.com/blue-dragon-sea-slug-where-do-they-live; wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaucus_atlanticus

Instituted at Creation

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“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.”

Genesis 2:2, 3

The great Jehovah had laid the foundations of the earth; He had dressed the whole world in the garb of beauty, and had filled it with things useful to man; He had created all the wonders of the land and of the sea. In six days, the great work of creation had been accomplished. And God “rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.” God looked with satisfaction upon the work of His hands. All was perfect, worthy of its divine Author, and He rested, not as one weary, but as well pleased with the fruits of His wisdom and goodness and the manifestations of His glory.

After resting upon the seventh day, God sanctified it, or set it apart, as a day of rest for man. Following the example of the Creator, man was to rest upon this sacred day, that as he should look upon the heavens and the earth, he might reflect upon God’s great work of creation; and that as he should behold the evidences of God’s wisdom and goodness, his heart might be filled with love and reverence for his Maker. …

God saw that a Sabbath was essential for man, even in Paradise. He needed to lay aside his own interests and pursuits for one day of the seven, that he might more fully contemplate the works of God, and meditate upon His power and goodness. He needed a Sabbath, to remind him more vividly of God, and to awaken gratitude because all that he enjoyed and possessed came from the beneficent hand of the Creator.

When the foundations of the earth were laid, … then was laid the foundation of the Sabbath. Well may this institution demand our reverence: it was ordained by no human authority, and rests upon no human traditions; it was established by the Ancient of days, and commanded by His eternal word.

A Holy Memorial

“He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” Psalm 111:4

In Eden, God set up the memorial of His work of creation, in placing His blessing upon the seventh day. The Sabbath was committed to Adam, the father and representative of the whole human family. Its observance was to be an act of grateful acknowledgment, on the part of all who should dwell upon the earth, that God was their creator and their rightful sovereign; that they were the work of His hands, and the subjects of His authority. Thus, the institution was wholly commemorative, and given to all mankind. There was nothing in it shadowy, or of restricted application to any people.

All things were created by the Son of God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. … All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1–3. And since the Sabbath is a memorial of the work of creation, it is a token of the love and power of Christ.

The Sabbath calls our thoughts to nature, and brings us into communion with the Creator. In the song of the bird, the sighing of the trees, and the music of the sea, we still may hear His voice who talked with Adam in Eden in the cool of the day. And as we behold His power in nature we find comfort, for the word that created all things is that which speaks life to the soul.

God … has given man six days in which to labor. But He sanctified the day of His rest, and gave it to man to be kept, free from all secular labor. By thus setting apart the Sabbath, God gave the world a memorial. He did not set apart one day and any day in seven, but one particular day, the seventh day. And by observing the Sabbath, we show that we recognize God as the living God, the Creator of the heaven and the earth.

Had the Sabbath always been sacredly observed, there could never have been an atheist or an idolater.

A Special Sign

“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 sanctifies them.” Ezekiel 20:12

As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came out of Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now distinguishes God’s people as they come out from the world to enter the heavenly rest.

The observance of the Sabbath is the means ordained by God of preserving a knowledge of Himself and of distinguishing between His loyal subjects and the transgressors of His law.

It [the Sabbath] belongs to Christ. … Since He made all things, He made the Sabbath. By Him it was set apart as a memorial of the work of creation. It points to Him as both the Creator and the Sanctifier. It declares that He who created all things in heaven and in earth, and by whom all things hold together, is the head of the church, and that by His power we are reconciled to God. For, speaking of Israel, He said, “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”—make them holy. Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ’s power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy. As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God. …

To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour. And every object in nature repeats His invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

The Sabbath is a golden clasp that unites God and His people.

Preparing for the Holy Day

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8

At the very beginning of the fourth commandment the Lord said, “Remember.” He knew that amid the multitude of cares and perplexities man would be tempted to excuse himself from meeting the full requirement of the law, or would forget its sacred importance. Therefore, He said: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

All through the week we are to have the Sabbath in mind and be making preparation to keep it according to the commandment. …

When the Sabbath is thus remembered, the temporal will not be allowed to encroach upon the spiritual. No duty pertaining to the six working days will be left for the Sabbath. During the week our energies will not be so exhausted in temporal labor that on the day when the Lord rested and was refreshed we shall be too weary to engage in His service. …

On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See that all the clothing is in readiness and that all the cooking is done. … The Sabbath is not to be given to the repairing of garments, to the cooking of food, to pleasure seeking, or to any other worldly employment. Before the setting of the sun let all secular work be laid aside and all secular papers be put out of sight. Parents, explain your work and its purpose to your children, and let them share in your preparation to keep the Sabbath according to the commandment.

There is another work that should receive attention on the preparation day. On this day all differences between brethren, whether in the family or in the church, should be put away. Let all bitterness and wrath and malice be expelled from the soul. In a humble spirit, “confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another.”

Before the setting of the sun let the members of the family assemble to read God’s word, to sing and pray.

We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every moment is consecrated, holy time.

Sanctified for Worship

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1

God has given us the whole of six days in which to do our work, and has reserved only one to Himself. This should be a day of blessing to us—a day when we should lay aside all our secular matters and center our thoughts upon God and heaven.

All heaven is keeping the Sabbath, but not in a listless, do-nothing way. On this day every energy of the soul should be awake, for are we not to meet with God and with Christ our Saviour? We may behold Him by faith. He is longing to refresh and bless every soul.

On Sabbath morning the family should be astir early. If they rise late, there is confusion and bustle in preparing for breakfast and Sabbath school. There is hurrying, jostling, and impatience. Thus, unholy feelings come into the home. The Sabbath, thus desecrated, becomes a weariness, and its coming is dreaded rather than loved.

The Sabbath is God’s time. He sanctified and hallowed the seventh day. He set it apart for man to keep as a day of worship.

We need to cherish and cultivate a spirit of true worship, a spirit of devotion upon the Lord’s holy, sanctified day. We should assemble together believing that we shall receive comfort and hope, light and peace from Jesus Christ.

All heaven was represented to me as beholding and watching upon the Sabbath those who acknowledge the claims of the fourth commandment and are observing the Sabbath. Angels were marking their interest in, and high regard for, this divine institution. Those who sanctified the Lord God in their hearts by a strictly devotional frame of mind, and who sought to improve the sacred hours in keeping the Sabbath to the best of their ability, and to honor God by calling the Sabbath a delight—these the angels were specially blessing with light and health, and special strength was given them.

Happiest Day of the Week

“If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” Isaiah 58:13, 14

God’s love has set a limit to the demands of toil. Over the Sabbath He places His merciful hand. In His own day He preserves for the family opportunity for communion with Him, with nature, and with one another.

The Sabbath and the family were alike instituted in Eden, and in God’s purpose they are indissolubly linked together. On this day more than on any other, it is possible for us to live the life of Eden. It was God’s plan for the members of the family to be associated in work and study, in worship and recreation.

God’s holy rest day was made for man, and acts of mercy are in perfect harmony with its intent.

To relieve the afflicted, to comfort the sorrowing, is a labor of love that does honor to God’s holy day.

Since the Sabbath is the memorial of creative power, it is the day above all others when we should acquaint ourselves with God through His works.

During a portion of the day, all should have an opportunity to be out of doors. How can children receive a more correct knowledge of God … than in spending a portion of their time out of doors, not in play, but in company with their parents? Let their young minds be associated with God in the beautiful scenery of nature. … As they view the beautiful things which He has created for the happiness of man, they will be led to regard Him as a tender, loving Father. … As the character of God puts on the aspect of love, benevolence, beauty, and attraction, they are drawn to love Him.

The Sabbath—oh!—make it the sweetest, the most blessed day of the whole week.

To Be Kept in Eternity

“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 66:23

How beautiful the earth was when it came from the Creator’s hand! God presented before the universe a world in which even His all-seeing eye could find no spot or stain. Each part of the creation occupied the part assigned to it, and answered the purpose for which it was created. Peace and holy joy filled the earth. There was no confusion, no clashing. There was no disease to afflict man or beast, and the vegetable kingdom was without taint or corruption. God looked upon the work of His hands, wrought out by Christ, and pronounced it “very good.”

The Sabbath was hallowed at the creation. As ordained for man, it had its origin when “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7. …

The Sabbath was not for Israel merely, but for the world. It had been made known to man in Eden, and, like the other precepts of the Decalogue, it is of imperishable obligation. Of that law of which the fourth commandment forms a part, Christ declares, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.” Matthew 5:18. So long as the heavens and the earth endure, the Sabbath will continue as a sign of the Creator’s power. And when Eden shall bloom on earth again, God’s holy rest day will be honored by all beneath the sun. “From one sabbath to another” the inhabitants of the glorified new earth shall … “worship before Me, saith the Lord.”

God teaches that we should assemble in His house to cultivate the attributes of perfect love. This will fit the dwellers of earth for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for all who love Him. There they will assemble in the sanctuary from Sabbath to Sabbath, from one new moon to another, to unite in loftiest strains of song, in praise and thanksgiving to Him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever. The Faith I Live By, 31–37