25. The Sabbath and Seventh-day Adventists

“If we desire the blessings promised to the obedient, we must observe the Sabbath more strictly….The command given to the Hebrews should be regarded by all Christens as an injunction from Jehovah to them.” Ellen G. White

I feel it is vitally important in connection with this study on the Sabbath to clarify and evaluate several Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) teachings and practices relative to this topic.¹

In some sections of the Adventist church there is now (2010) considerable openness to understand the Sabbath in a Christ centered way as long as one does not teach against SDA’s historic understanding of the Sabbath or other church doctrines. Many SDA pastors no longer believe in a number of the “unique teachings” of historic Adventism. However, most hold their views in private and share them only with trusted associates. This chapter deals with the historic Adventist understanding of the Sabbath. Adventist evan- gelists, however, usually still rely on the historic Adventist teachings to persuade their attendees to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church and are doing this very successfully, especially in third world countries. It appears that the SDA church, at least at the General Conference level, is not leaving its historic teachings.²

The Sabbath and the True Church

Many people who leave the Seventh-day Adventist church have unanswered questions regarding which church is the “true” or “remnant” church and what part, if any, the Sabbath has in connection with the “true church.”

Seventh-day Adventists are taught to believe that the SDA church is God’s last-day, true church, or “the remnant church.”³ The support for this belief is derived mainly from two passages in the book of Revelation.

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of Godand hold to the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:17).

And I fell at his feet to worship him…And he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow-servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God…For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10).

Seventh-day Adventists believe these verses teach that the SDA church is the only, true, remnant church. Their reasoning goes like this: The “woman” represents the church. The “rest” (“remnant” KJV) of her offspring must be the portion of the church living in the last days (our time). Revelation 12:17 lists two identifying marks of this last church: (1) It will “keep the commandments of God” and (2) “hold to the testimony of Jesus.” But what is “the testimony of Jesus”? By comparing Revelation 19:10 they find that the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” They interpret “commandments of God” to mean the Ten Commandments of Sinai, including the Fourth Commandment, which leads them to conclude the end-time church will be a seventh-day, Sabbath- keeping church. They interpret “spirit of prophecy” to mean a last- day prophet giving a prophetic message. They believe this last-day prophet is Ellen G. White, whose writings they refer to as “The Spirit of Prophecy” or “The Testimonies.” The SDA church accepts her writings as “a continuing and authoritative source of truth.”⁴ Seventh-day Adventists believe and teach that the SDA church is the only, true, last-day church because it is the only seventh-day, Sabbath-keeping church which has a modern-day prophet (even though Ellen White died in 1915).

Is this a correct interpretation? It is based upon three fundamen- tal assumptions: (1) “Commandments of God” must refer to the Ten Commandments of Sinai and specifically include the Sabbath commandment, (2) the “testimony of Jesus” is an undefined term except for its use in Revelation 19:10, and (3) the “spirit of prophecy” must refer to a modern-day prophet. Let us study these three terms of Scripture, evaluate the underlying assumptions in the above reasoning and draw some conclusions.

Commandments of God

The word “commandments,” as used in the New Testament, may refer to one or more of the Ten Commandments. However, this term does not always refer to the Ten Commandments, and when it does, only once is it used in connection with the Sabbath commandment. That one time is:

And they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment (Lk. 23:56).

Other uses of the term commandment or commandments of God include the following:

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. Let each man remain in the condition in which he was called (1 Cor. 7:19, 20).

There is no evidence that entolon theou (“the commandments of God”) was a technical term which would have been understood as referring exclusively (or even primarily) to the Decalogue.⁵

We must remember that we are seeking to define “commandments” as used by John, the author of Revelation.⁶ While Luke used the Greek word commandment (entole) to refer to the Sabbath commandment, John always, uses the word “Law” (nomos) when referring to old covenant law.⁷ When John uses the word “commandment” (entole) it never refers to the old covenant law and usually refers to the new covenant law of love.⁸ I encourage the reader to refer to footnotes 6 and 7 where all the passages in John’s writings which contain the words “law” and “commandment” have been listed. It will become immediately evident that when used in John, “commandment” (entole) does not refer to the Ten Commandments, or other portions of the old covenant.

Here are a few of the places where the Greek word (entole), used for “commandments” in Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 14:12, is used by John in his other writings .

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments (Jn. 14:15). He who has My commandments, and keeps them, he it is who loves Me…(Jn. 14:21). 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…This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you…This I command you, that you love one another (Jn. 15:10,12,17).

And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us (1 Jn. 3:23,24).

And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also (1 Jn. 4:21).

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome (1 Jn. 5:2,3).

We conclude that the term, “commandments of God” as used by John in Revelation 12:17 and 14:10 does not refer to the Ten Commandments. If he were referring to the Ten Commandments He would have used the Greek word (nomos) “Law”

The testimony of Jesus

The word, “testimony” comes from a root word which in its various forms in Greek means testifying, testimony, witness and martyr. The underlying meaning is the proclamation of truth regardless of consequences. The “of Jesus” part of this phrase can be understood in two ways. It can mean the testimony from Jesus, or it can mean the testimony concerning Jesus. The first meaning stresses the fact that this testimony has Jesus as its source. The second meaning stresses the idea that this testimony has Jesus as the subject matter. Either interpretation is valid as far as the Greek syntax is concerned.

In other words, the phrase “testimony of Jesus” means proc- laiming the truth of (either from or about) Jesus. When we stop to think about it, this is not a bad definition of the gospel. It is a proclamation of the truth both from and about Jesus. From a linguistic definition we would say the “testimony of Jesus” is a term which stands for the gospel as it is fearlessly proclaimed.

Let us now look at all the passages in the book of Revelation which use the terms “testimony of Jesus” or just “testimony” and seek to discover the meaning of this term.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John; who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw (Rev. 1:1,2).

I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 1:9).

And when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained (Rev. 6:9).

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4).

In these verses the “testimony of Jesus” or just “the testimony” is used as a term for the gospel. John bears witness to the gospel, the truth about (or from) Jesus (Rev. 1:1,2). The souls under the altar had been slain because they maintained the truth about (or from) Jesus.

With this background let us now return to the two texts in question and see if our definition of “testimony of Jesus” fits within their context.

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:17).

Who are these people with whom the dragon is angry? They are the people who keep the new covenant commandments of God and hold to the truth about (or from) Jesus! Notice the close parallel verse in Revelation 14:12.

Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

These two verses seem to say the same thing. In one the saints are described as those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. In the other they keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Therefore, the term “testimony of Jesus” and keeping their “faith in Jesus” are parallel in meaning.

It is quite evident that the term “testimony of Jesus” has reference to the gospel. It is the truth about (or from) Jesus. If this is true, then what does the Revelator mean when he says “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”?

And I [John] fell at his feet to worship him [the angel] and he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow-servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy ” (Rev. 19:10).

Here the angel says he also holds the “testimony of Jesus.” In other words, the angel also believes the truth about (or from) Jesus. Focusing on the last phrase, we read, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” To paraphrase, “The truth about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Notice how this verse is variously translated or paraphrased.

Those who bear testimony to Jesus are inspired like the prophets (The New English Bible).

For the truth revealed by Jesus is the inspiration of all prophecy (Weymouth).

For the testimony of Jesus is what inspires prophecy (Goodspeed).

It is the truth concerning Jesus which inspires all prophecy (Knox).

The testimony focused on Jesus is the gist of prophecy (The Idiomatic Translation of the New Testament).

The purpose of all prophecy and of all I have shown you is to tell about Jesus (Living Bible).

For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus (New Living Translation).

These translators have captured the essence of what John is seeking to communicate. All prophecy, when rightly interpreted, in some way points to the truth concerning Jesus.

You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me (Jn. 5:39).

“O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (Lk. 24:25−27).

There is one instance in Revelation where the ark of the covenant (or testimony) is mentioned.

And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm (Rev. 11:19).

However, the context of this is totally different from that of Revelation 19:10. It must also be pointed out that Revelation is a book that is saturated with Old Testament imagery. This imagery, however, does not have a one to one correspondence. Rather, it is presented as symbolic of ideas that must be transformed into new covenant truth.

Good theology does not have its foundation in apocalyptic prophecy. The book of Revelation has been interpreted in many, many ways throughout the history of the Christian church and even today most honest scholars will tell you that much of it still remains somewhat of a mystery.

Our conclusion is that Revelation 19:10 and 12:17 have nothing whatever to do with the writings of Ellen White, even if these writings are known by Seventh-day Adventists as “the Spirit of Prophecy” or “Testimonies to the Church.” John was imprisoned on the isle of Patmos not because he had the writings of Ellen White or because he was a prophet, but because he held to the truth concerning Jesus. The church derives its “trueness” as it submits to the head of the church, Jesus Christ.

By using this text as “proof” that the SDA church is the “remnant church of Bible prophecy”, the Adventist church has, in essence, substituted the writings of Ellen G. White in the place of the gospel of Christ!

We conclude that the reasoning used by Seventh-day Adventists to prove they are the true, remnant church of the last days is faulty on every count. Not only is this claim of Adventism faulty on every count, it is heretical at its very core. It has removed the gospel of Christ and in its place substituted the writings of their dead “prophet,” Ellen White. If the above evidence is not sufficient consider the two following quotations:

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son (Heb. 1:1,2).

In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the testimonies of His Spirit.There was never a time when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning His will and the course that He would have them pursue (Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. p. 147).

A careful comparison of the two statements above shows that Ellen White has taken out Christ as God’s final word to mankind, and inserted her writings in that place! She even intimates that the revelation of the “testimonies of His Spirit”—a code word for her writings—are superior for people living in these days. This is serious error that needs to be exposed.

Are you looking for “the true church”? You will find no one human organization which is the true church. Rather look for a local gathering of Christian believers who confess and worship Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, who make Him the center of their theology, who demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit in their lives, who proclaim the simple gospel of God’s grace, who practice water baptism and celebrate the Lord’s Supper, who study and obey God’s word, and who express their forgiven condition by loving one another—even immature sinners who need God. There you will find God’s true church regardless of its name.

The Sabbath and SDA Evangelism

The Sabbath doctrine has proven to be a manipulative tool in Seventh-day Adventist evangelism. The evangelistic method often used is to “show” from portions of Scripture (often out of context) the binding nature of the seventh-day Sabbath, demonstrate that the SDA church keeps the Sabbath and explain to the people that if they want to be saved and not receive the “mark of the beast” then they should join the SDA church, which is God’s only true, remnant church. Seventh-day Adventists teach the seventh-day Sabbath is the “seal of God” and Sunday worship will become the “mark of the beast.”⁹ This manipulative method has brought hundreds of thousands if not millions of “converts” into the SDA church. It continues to be used in their “traditional evangelism.”¹⁰ This method creates several serious problems. (1) It is unbiblical. Nowhere in the New Testament is this type of evangelism taught or practiced. Rather, New Testament evangelism is always a proclamation of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ! (2) The SDA “traditional evangelistic method,” as mentioned above, undermines the gospel. It takes the gospel out of the center and makes Sabbath observance “the testing truth.”¹¹ (3) It damages church unity. It is contrary to Christ’s prayer “that they may all be one” (Jn. 17:20, 21). (4) It creates unneeded social concerns and economic problems for new converts. Often people are counseled to quit jobs, disobey marriage partners or parents in order to “keep the Sabbath” from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. Thus, like the Jews of New Testament times, the observance of Sabbath law takes precedence over relationships. The paradox is that the Sabbath laws were to point forward to a restored relationship. In the new covenant, relationship takes precedence over ceremony.

Following is a letter I received two days before I revised this chapter in 1995. It illustrates how Seventh-day Adventists use the Sabbath as a manipulative tool in their evangelism.

Dear sir,

I have purchased your book Sabbath in Crisis, and have found it to be enlightening and biblically correct.

Let me tell you something about myself. I am a twenty-eight-year-old black female. I am a born-again Christian for eight years now and an active church member. I am a member of the ____ church.

The reason for my writing to you is I have a male friend whom I love very much. We have known each other for about three years. He is an Adventist. At first there was not much of a problem. We are both Christians, serving the same God.

Two months ago, the Seventh-day Adventist Conference of ____ started tent meetings. The preacher is an Adventist minister from ____.

I have heard him preach. He has been preaching that if a person does not keep the Sabbath they are in unbelief and are lost. He says persons who go to church on Sundays have the mark of the beast. He says God (1) cannot change, (2) cannot lie, (3) cannot hear a law breaker’s prayer, among other things. He also teaches that in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, it says that if we do not keep the commandments we are lost, among other things.

My friend of three years, whom I pray with, who visits my church, and I his, is now faced with two problems. He is being taught that I am not a Christian.

The preacher is very persuasive and the Adventists do not question anything he says. My friend who was already baptized went and was baptized again. Over four hundred persons are baptized every Saturday for the past two weeks.

Now Adventists are coming up to persons who are not Adventists and telling these persons they have the mark of the beast.

My friend does not want to lose my friendship, or I his, but this thing has become a mountain.

I think I read that you were once an Adventist; why did you leave? Could you write back to me and just give me an idea of what you think of what I have written you about…¹²

What this young woman writes is typical of Adventist “traditional evangelism” and how they use the Sabbath as a manipulative tool.

That Adventists are still using this manipulative method is evident from an email I received May 14, 2002.

I am currently attending a seminar sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in which Verne Snow is presenting the Prophecies for the End Times. Two of my friends went forward last night, and I am being pressured to join the local Adventist Church. I am Faith Wesleyan, and what the Adventists say about the Sabbath being changed to Sunday by the Catholic Church, and the fact that we are worshipping on Sundays, and thus not keeping the Sabbath, is weighing on my heart. I am saved by the grace of our Lord. However, if I am breaking the True Sabbath, [and] have I fallen from Grace, becomes the question. They say if I recognize that Saturday is the Lord’s Holy Day, but worship on Sunday, I am not keeping the 4th Commandment. This makes sense, but I do not agree with “voting” anyone into a church. That is Christ’s decision alone. I really have no desire to change churches, but if Saturday is the true Sabbath, I want the Church I attend to worship on Saturday, in keeping the Sabbath Holy. [Do you have] any advice for me?

One can see SDA’s manipulative method still being used here. A born-again Christian is told that she will fall from grace if she does not keep the seventh-day Sabbath! Paul, on the other hand, said that those who were trying to keep the law were the ones who were likely to fall from grace!¹³

Just a few months ago, (September, 2009) Adventists held a “Revelation of Hope” series of meetings. As usual, it was held in a neutral place. The large 11 x 17 colored flyer was filled with the pictures of the beasts of Daniel and Revelation, Obama, war plans and the twin towers falling. Topics included: “Signs You Can’t Ignore,” “The Mark of the Beast and Antichrist,” etc. The speaker was presented as a “student of Bible prophecy” giving clear presentations from the mysterious books of Daniel and Revelation. As usual, no mention was made that the speaker was an Adventist Pastor.

It is clear that SDAs still believe that if a person “understands” the Sabbath and Adventist doctrine, and then leaves, they will be lost. Following is a quote from a recent (2003) President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Jan Paulsen.

…We believe that being Seventh-day Adventists has a direct bearing on our salvation; that while a believer can be saved as a Catholic, I would risk my whole spiritual life and salvation were I to leave what I am now and join any other community.¹⁴

The Sabbath and the “Seal of God”

For Seventh-day Adventists the Sabbath holds considerable significance, more than most other Christians realize. It is seen as the “testing truth” for the last days. They believe that sometime “soon” true Christians will be separated from false “Christians” and the point of separation will be loyalty to God as manifested by the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. Those who reject the “truth” of the seventh-day Sabbath message will at that time receive the mark of the beast, which they believe to be enforced Sunday worship. Thus, according to their eschatology, all Christendom will fall into one of these two camps: true seventh-day Sabbath keepers who have the “seal of God” and those who worship on Sunday who will receive the “mark of the beast.” ¹⁵

This is not some sideline theology within the SDA church; it is the very heart of traditional Adventism. It is called “The Third Angel’s Message” (From Rev. 14:6−12). It is the basis of their official logo, which may be seen on many SDA churches and in many of their periodicals. It is this “message” which gives purpose to their existence. It is this “truth” which mandates their continuing presence in the world.

Because of this understanding many who leave the Seventh-day Adventist church live under fear and guilt.¹⁶ They fear they may be deceived and may end up receiving the mark of the beast rather than the seal of God. They suffer guilt since they no longer worship with the “true, remnant church.” Many who leave the SDA church feel isolated. They are not comfortable to worship in any local Christian church which worships on Sunday for fear they may receive the mark of the beast. For this reason many flounder in their spiritual life clinging desperately to friends on the fringes of the Adventist church, or to some other sabbatarian group.

The chapter, Christ: The Testing Truth, provides a solid, scriptural foundation for those who are uncertain about their acceptance with God. However, let us now consider the SDA doctrine regarding the Sabbath and the Seal of God.

The following quotation is taken from the SDA “Summary of Doctrinal Beliefs” as found on the back of their Certificate of Baptism.

The seventh day of the week is the eternal sign of Christ’s power as Creator and Redeemer, and is therefore the Lord’s day, or the Christian Sabbath, constituting the seal of the living God. It should be observed from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.

The traditional support for the seventh-day Sabbath as the seal of God comes from the common understanding of what a seal is: it is a mark which shows authenticity by (1) giving the name of the one in authority, (2) the title of the one in authority, and (3) the dominion of the one in authority. Seventh-day Adventists show that the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment has all of this information: “The Lord” (name), “The Lord your God” (title), “Who made the heavens and the earth, and sea and all that is in them” (dominion).

This may be good human reasoning, but the New Testament never speaks of the Sabbath as the seal of God. Because the Sabbath commandment was placed in the very center of the Ten Commandments, it served as the dynastic seal of the Sinaitic Covenant. On several occasions within the old covenant we find the Sabbath called a sign. In context it is always the sign between God and the sons of Israel.

But speak to the sons of Israel, saying “You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations” (Ex. 31:13).

It [the Sabbath] is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever (Ex. 31:17).

And also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them (Ez. 20:12).

I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, and keep My ordinances, and observe them. And sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God (Ez. 20:20).

Never is the Sabbath called a seal or a sign within the new covenant. During the ministry of Jesus He was the seal.

Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal (Jn. 6:27).

Now that Jesus has ascended to the Father, Christ’s representative, the Holy Spirit, is the seal which the Christian receives when he believes.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us in God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge (2 Cor. 1:21,22).

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:13,14).

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30).

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).

Some Adventist evangelists, confronted with the above texts, are now admitting that the seal is the Holy Spirit, but, they add, the Sabbath is the “sign of the seal.”

According to the New Testament, the sealing takes place when a person places his faith in Christ alone for salvation and he is regenerated by the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. It is simultaneous to our entering into the true rest of God.

According to Scripture the seventh-day Sabbath is not the seal of God. According to the New Testament the seventh-day Sabbath is not the sign which is to be remembered by Christians; rather Christians are to celebrate the Lord’s Supper (the new covenant sign) in remembrance of Christ. Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

The Dilemma of Sabbath Observance

If the Sabbath is going to be the final test as Adventists teach, then it must be observed by certain behavior. Who is going to decide what behavior will pass the test? I sent out over a dozen draft manuscripts of this book to Seventh-day Adventist pastors and theologians for their evaluation. I was amazed at their comments regarding Sabbath keeping.

One retired SDA theologian said “God leaves the details of Sabbath observance up to the individual.” If that is true, then how can this be a life and death test? What will the man who was stoned for picking up sticks on the Sabbath say to this?

Another well known Adventist theologian expressed to me that the Sabbath law in the Ten Commandments was the only moral Sabbath law and the other Sabbath laws in Scripture were all ceremonial. If this is true, then why do Seventh-day Adventists keep the Sabbath from sundown to sundown and publish the exact time of sunset each week in their papers?

Yet another retired Adventist professor said, “Keeping the Sabbath is not a work of the law—it is resting in God’s grace.” If this is true, then why do Adventists make such an important issue in their Evangelistic meetings over Rev. 12:17 and “keeping the commandments” which they interpret to be the Ten Commandment law?

Endless discussions will never do away with biblical state- ments. There is no biblical evidence which suggests that some of the Old Testament Sabbath commands are still to be followed while others are not. There is little logic in the way Seventh-day Adventists observe certain of the old covenant Sabbath commands while neglecting others.¹⁷ The chief support for their form of Sabbath observance is dependence upon the writings of Ellen White. However, who is willing to keep the Sabbath according to her rules?¹⁸ Few can measure up to all of her Sabbath laws, and if one does not he is under condemnation.^19,20 Yet if one does keep all the Sabbath rules laid down by Ellen White he must again face Scripture for she, herself, says,

God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms.²¹

The biblical laws for Sabbath observance include all the following: not going out of one’s place, not baking or boiling, not doing any work, not building a fire, not buying or selling, not carrying a load or burden, not doing your own pleasure. The commands for Sabbath observance were to keep it holy, to have a day of complete rest, observe, do, or celebrate, and delight oneself in the Lord.²² Sabbaths were to be carefully observed from sundown Friday to sundown Sabbath.²³ Penalties for the violation of the Sabbath law included being put to death and cut off from the covenant people.²⁴ Again I ask, how is one to observe the Sabbath?

I have many friends who remain in the Seventh-day Adventist church who call themselves “liberated Sabbath-keepers.” They continue to worship on the Sabbath in that they go to church on Saturday. However, they have been “liberated” from what they call the “legalistic aspects” of the Sabbath. They feel free to go out to eat in a restaurant after church where they have to buy their meal. They have no problem stopping at the supermarket to get needed (not necessarily emergency) items, watching TV, playing on the computer, or even working on Sabbath afternoon.

This “liberated Sabbath keeping” is not Sabbath keeping at all. One cannot claim the (supposed) biblical benefits of the Sabbath while ignoring the biblical rules for Sabbath observance. If these “liberated Sabbath keepers” still think the Seventh-day Sabbath applies today, they ought to fear, for in reality their “liberated Sabbath keeping” is really nothing but self-deceptive Sabbath breaking.

To My Seventh-day Adventist Friends

Many years ago when I conducted a seven-month study of the Sabbath I felt no compulsion to persuade any of you to change your beliefs concerning the Sabbath. Nor did I feel that way when I started to write Sabbath in Crisis. However, now that many intervening years have transpired and I have restudied this subject in greater depth, especially in the light of the covenants, and have, in the intervening years, received hundreds—probably many thousands—of phone calls, letters and emails from both current and former Sabbath keepers, I now feel I must share with you my deep concern as I revise Sabbath in Christ. Prayerfully consider the following.

Seventh-day Adventists believe they will be judged in relation to the Ten Commandment law of Sinai.²⁵ They believe the Sabbath is the seal of God, the seal of the covenant under which they live, and use the reference in Exodus 31:12−17 to support this view.²⁶

They believe the Sabbath is the “testing truth” for the last days.²⁷ Remember however what Scripture clearly teaches. The Ten Commandments are the words of the Sinaitic Covenant.²⁸ The seventh-day Sabbath is the sign of the Sinaitic Covenant.²⁹ The Sinaitic Covenant was made only with the “sons of Israel.”³⁰ The Sabbath is at the very heart of the Sinaitic Covenant and is inseparably connected with every aspect of it.³¹ The New Testament calls the Sinaitic Covenant the “first” or “old” covenant.³² The New Testament says this “first” or “old” covenant is obsolete, is ready to disappear and should be “thrown out.”³³ Paul said those who want to be under this covenant must keep all the stipulations of this covenant or they are cursed.³⁴ Paul says those who keep this covenant for religious reasons have fallen from grace.³⁵ If you are seeking to be under this law, remember,

There is no partiality with God…all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified (Rom. 2:11−13).

Paul says that required Sabbath observance undermines the gospel. It has been my experience, personally, and in working with hundreds of others, that this is usually true. When the Galatians started observing days, months, seasons, and years, Paul was fearful that he had labored over them in vain.³⁶

As pointed out above it is the Holy Spirit, not the Sabbath, that is the new covenant seal of God. It is the Lord’s supper, not the Sabbath, that is the repeatable sign new covenant Christians are to remember.

I know some of you have some understanding of the gospel and are trusting Christ for your salvation. I know many of you are honestly seeking to follow God. Make sure your understanding of the Sabbath and the covenants is biblical.

I also know there are many SDA pastors, college and university professors and some administrators and evangelists both currently employed and retired who have communicated with me that they no longer believe many of SDA’s unique teachings. Many no longer believe that the Sabbath is the seal of God or Sunday worship is, or will be, the Mark of the Beast. Very few now hold to SDA’s 1844 sanctuary theology, the writings of Ellen White “as a continuing and authoritative source of truth” or the Adventist church as “the remnant church of Bible prophecy.” These people need our prayers. They want to be loyal to their church but also wish the church could drop its cultic, historic teachings and move to a Christ-centered, sola scriptura, organization.

If you, the reader, are in this group, ask yourself if you are living a duplicitous life. Do you “appear” to be a loyal, believing Adventist to the church members under your care? Are you really changing the church or are you perpetuating the cover up? Why not take a stand for truth and let the chips fall where they will? There is no greater blessing than a clear conscience!

It is my prayer that this book may in some small way help in this transition and that you, the reader, will find your Sabbath in Christ who is the True Rest, the Real Redemption, Your Covenant Keeper and the only One worthy of genuine worship—on any and every day of the week.

Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light (Mt. 11:28−30).

But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:23,24).

Endnotes

1. The author was a fourth-generation Seventh-day Adventist, grew up in an Adventist home, received all of his schooling from first grade through graduate school in SDA educational institutions, taught Bible in a SDA educational institution, and served as a Seventh-day Adventist pastor for thirteen years. He still has communication with a number of SDA pastors.
2. Based upon reading the new General Conference President’s sermon given July 3, 2010.
3. See Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists, No. 13, “The Remnant and Its Mission,” and No. 18, “The Gift of Prophecy.”
4. “One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. As the Lord’s messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28,29; Acts 2:14 −21; Heb. 1:1−3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)” Doctrinal point No. 18 taken from Fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists. (Emphasis supplied.)
5. 5 D. R. De Lacy, “The Sabbath/Sunday Question and the Law in the Pauline Corpus”, in From Sabbath to Lord’s Day, p. 176.
6. This assumes that John the Evangelist is the same person as John the Revelator, which some question.
7. The following is a complete list of the usages of the word “Law” in the writings of John: “For the Law [nomos] was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1:17). “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law [nomos] and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” (Jn. 1:45). “Did not Moses give you the Law [nomos], and yet none of you carries out the Law [nomos]? Why do you seek to kill Me?” (Jn. 7:19). “If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law [nomos] of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?” (Jn. 7:23). “But this multitude which does not know the Law [nomos] is accursed” (Jn. 7:49). “Our Law [nomos] does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” (Jn. 7:51). “Now in the Law [nomos] Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” (Jn. 8:5). “Even in your law [nomos] it has been written, that the testimony of two men is true” (Jn. 8:17). “Jesus answered them, ‘Has it not been written in your Law [nomos], “I SAID, YOU ARE GODS”?’” (Jn. 10:34). “The multitude therefore answered Him, ‘We have heard out of the Law [nomos] that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this Son of Man?’” (Jn. 12:34). “But they have done this in order that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their Law [nomos], ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’” (Jn. 15:25). “Pilate therefore said to them, ‘Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law [nomos].’ The Jews said to him, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death’” (Jn. 18:31). “The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law [nomos], and by that law [nomos] He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God’” (Jn. 19:7). The word “Law” (nomos) is not used in Revelation.
8. The following is a complete listing of the word “commandment” in the writings of John: “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment [entole] I received from My Father ” (Jn. 10:18). “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment [entole], what to say, and what to speak. And I know that His commandment [entole] is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me” (Jn. 12:49,50). “A new commandment [entole] I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (Jn. 13:34). “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments [entole]” (Jn. 14:15). “He who has My commandments [entole] and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him” (Jn. 14:21). “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment [entole], even so I do. Arise, let us go from here” (Jn. 14:31). “If you keep My commandments [entole], you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments [entole], and abide in His love” (Jn. 15:10). “This is My commandment [entole], that you love one another, just as I have loved you ” (Jn. 15:12). “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments [entole]. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments [entole], is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:3,4). “Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment [entole] to you, but an old commandment [entole] which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment [entole] is the word which you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment [entole] to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining” (1 Jn. 2:7,8). “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments [entole] and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment [entole], that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded [entole] us. And the one who keeps His commandments [entole] abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us ” (1 Jn. 3:22–24). “And this commandment [entole] we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also” (1 Jn. 4:21). “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments [entole]. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments [entole]; and His commandments [entole] are not burdensome” (1 Jn. 5:2,3). “I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment [entole] to do from the Father. And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment [entole], but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another” (2 Jn. 1:4,5). “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments [entole]. This is the commandment [entole], just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it” (2 Jn. 1:6). The word “commandment” (entole) is used only two times in Revelation: Rev. 12:17 and 14:12.
9. “The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty; for it is the point of truth especially controverted…The Fourth Commandment…contains the seal of God, affixed to His law as evidence of its authenticity and binding force. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers [in context, Sunday worship], receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.” E. G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 605.
10. “By keeping the seventh day holy, God’s people show their loyalty to their Creator and Recreator. God designed the seventh-day Sabbath to be His sign or seal to distinguish those who worship Him from those who do not…Those who keep the Sabbath receive God’s seal and demonstrate their loyalty to Him. In contrast, those who reject God’s control and choose to follow the beast power receive its mark. (See Revelation 13:16, 17.) The contrast is clear.” R. Russell Holt, Signs of the Times (the missionary journal of SDAs), February and March 1990. See also Marvin More, The Antichrist and the New World Order (Pacific Press Publishing Association, Boise, ID, 1993) The book, The Ultimate Rip-off, by Bill Stringfellow, (Concerned Publications, Bemidji, MN, 1987) gives a popular—if not sensational—presentation of the “traditional Adventist” evangelistic agenda.
    
    As the author was revising this chapter, Seventh-day Adventists left the book, National Sunday Law, by A. Jan Marcussen, at his home and in the homes in the author’s neighborhood. This must be a common practice as the flyleaf of the book states “7 million in print.” This book contains sensational material designed to call attention to the Sabbath and the mark of the beast.
11. “Before Jesus comes, the entire world will stand divided over the great issue of loyalty to God and His commandments—especially the Fourth Commandment…Loyalty to God and His commandments will be the test.” R. Russell Holt, Signs of the Times, February and March 1990. “The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted.” E. G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 605.
12. Used by permission of the author who requested anonymity. 
13. Gal. 5:4.
14. Jan Paulson, “The Theological Landscape” No. 4, “The Idea of Remnant” printed in the Adventist Review, (Review and Herald Publishing Association, Hagerstown, MD, 2002).
15. “The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of creation. ‘The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.’ Exodus 31:12,13. Here the Sabbath is clearly designated as a sign between God and His people. The mark of the beast is the opposite—the observance of the first day of the week. This mark distinguishes those who acknowledge the supremacy of the papal authority from those who acknowledge the authority of God.” E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 117.
16. “It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people [SDA members] in the Testimonies [Writings of Ellen G. White]. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived one will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends up in destruction.” E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 335. (see also footnote No. 18, 19).
17. Seventh-day Adventists in general follow many of the old covenant laws regarding Sabbath observance, yet the author has never known any Adventist to follow the clear biblical law, “You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day ” (Ex. 35:3).
18. “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. Let the boots be blacked and the baths taken. It is possible to do this. If you make it a rule you can do it. 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.” Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 355. “Let not the precious hours of the Sabbath be wasted in bed. On Sabbath morning the family should be astir early.” Ibid., p. 357. “If we desire the blessing promised to the obedient, we must observe the Sabbath more strictly. I fear that we often travel on this day when it might be avoided. In harmony with the light which the Lord has given in regard to the observance of the Sabbath, we should be more careful about traveling on the boats or cars on this day…When starting on a journey we should make every possible effort to plan so as to avoid the company of those who would draw our attention to worldly things…We should not talk about matters of business or engage in any common, worldly conversation. At all times and in all places God requires us to prove our loyalty to Him by honoring the Sabbath.” Ibid., p. 360. “God requires that His holy day be as sacredly observed now as in the time of Israel. The command given to the Hebrews should be regarded by all Christians as an injunction from Jehovah to them.” E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 296.
19. “Those who would in any way lessen the force of the sharp reproofs which God has given me to speak, must meet their work at the judgment.” E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 19. “If you feel just as safe in following your own impulses as in following the light given by God’s delegated servant [E. G. White], the peril is your own; you will be condemned because you rejected the light which heaven had sent to you.” Ibid., p. 674. “It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies.” Ibid., p. 672.
    “God has given sufficient evidence so that all who desire to do so may satisfy themselves as to the character of the Testimonies; and, having acknowledged them to be from God, it is their duty to accept reproof, even though they do not themselves see the sinfulness of their course…Those who despise the warning will be left in blindness to become self-deceived.” Ibid., p. 682.
20. Author’s note: The quotations from Ellen G. White in Note 19 express the cultic control of fear and guilt. This is not God’s method. He invites us to come and reason together (Isa. 1:18). It is the love of Christ which controls us (2 Cor. 5:14). God invites us to study for ourselves and compare what others say with the truth of Scripture (Acts 17:11). We should never allow the keeping of our souls to be given to another human being. In essence, Ellen White is saying that if a person once believed in her writings, and then rejected them, he/she is lost. It should be known that she also condemned those who rejected the false message of William Miller’s 1843 prediction of the second coming of Christ. (See E. G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 140.) She condemned those who said the door of mercy was still open after 1844. (See E. G. White, Day Star 1846 as printed in 1844 and the Rise of Sabbatarian Adventism, p. 146, and the “Camdon Vision” as printed in Ford, Daniel 8:14, The Day of Atonement and the Investigative Judgment, p. 356 ff.) All of these false condemnations came as a result of her “visions” where God showed her the “truth” which in retrospect is blatant error.
21.  E. G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 595.
22. Review “Prohibition” and “Admonitions” in the chapter, “Shadows of Christ”. 
23. See Lev. 23:32.
24. See Ex. 31:15; 35:2,3.
25. “The great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments…These precepts are the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard in God’s judgment…” No. 19, Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists.
26. 26 E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 117.
27. “The Lord has said that the Sabbath was a sign between him and his people forever. The time is coming when all those who worship God will be distinguished by this sign. They will be known as the servants of God, by this mark of their allegiance to Heaven. But all man made tests will divert the mind from the great and important doctrines that constitute the present truth.” Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, 1888-05-29. See also the Youth’s Instructor, 1898- 10-20.
28. See Ex. 31:18; 34:28; Deut. 9:9,11,15; 1 Ki. 8:9,12.
29. See Ex. 31:12−17.
30. See Ex. 20:1,2; 31:13,16,17; Deut. 5:1−3.
31. See Lev. 23 and review “Sabbath Relationships” in the chapter, “The Shadows of Christ”.
32. See Heb. 9:1− 4; 2 Cor. 3:2−7; Gal. 4:21−31.
33. See Heb. 9:1− 4; 2 Cor. 3:2−7; Gal. 4:21−31 and review the chapter, “A Better Law”.
34. See Gal 3:13; 5:1− 4.
35. See Gal. 5:4.
36. See Col. 2:16,17; Gal. 3:10,11,21.

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Dale Ratzlaff

Dale Ratzlaff (1936–2024), is the founder of Life Assurance Ministries and Proclamation! Magazine. He served as a Seventh-day Adventist pastor for 13 years, seven at Monterey Bay Academy where he taught Bible. He and his wife Carolyn left the Adventist church in 1981 when he realized he could no longer teach the investigative judgment with a clear conscience. He has authored several books on Adventism that are available through his website, SabbathInChrist.com.

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