Chapter 8

Entering a Deeper Walk with God

In this book, we have learned that many gems of truths were lost in the Dark Ages, which we must recover today. One of the most precious is the fact that you can have a far closer walk with God than you imagined possible.

When we study God’s Word—the Holy Bible—and obey its truths, we are able to enter upon the path of obedience that God invites us to enter.

In this chapter you will discover what the Scriptures say about a special truth that God has for you —

FACT NUMBER ONE—The Sabbath was given to all mankind at the Creation of this world.

The seventh-day Sabbath was given to mankind on the seventh day of Creation Week.

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 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 2:1-3.

God dedicated and set aside the Sabbath as a rest day—2,000 years before the first Jew. Abraham is considered by all to have been the first Jew. He lived about 2000 B.C. Biblical records indicate that the Creation of this world took place about 4000 B.C. So the Bible Sabbath is not Jewish! It is for mankind; it is for all the world.

"The Sabbath was made for man."—Mark 2:27.

FACT NUMBER TWO—The Sabbath is a memorial of Creation and our salvation.

First, it is a memorial of Creation.

"It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed."—Exodus 31:17.

As a memorial of the Creation of this world, the Sabbath cannot pass away without first having this world pass away—and creating a new one! Our planet could not have a new or different Sabbath day, without having it first hurled into oblivion—and then a new planet created from nothing. But no such event has occurred.

Second, the Sabbath is a symbol of our salvation. When we keep it, we tell all the world that we belong to God and that we serve and obey Him. The seventh-day Sabbath is a sign of our conversion, sanctification, and salvation:

"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 31:13.

"Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them."—Ezekiel 20:12.

"And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God."—Ezekiel 20:20.

But what about Christ’s resurrection? Nowhere in Scripture are we told to keep any day in honor of Christ’s resurrection. To do so is unscriptural. On the contrary, to set aside the Creation and sanctification Sabbath of the Bible—for another day of the week—and excuse it by saying that we do so "in honor of Christ’s resurrection"—is indeed to do a very daring thing. Who dare presume to set aside the Memorial of Creation and salvation for any reason! To knowingly do so flies in the face of repeated, direct, Biblical commands by the God of heaven. To do so denies that He is our Creator and Redeemer.

If we abandon the Bible Sabbath and keep another day holy, in the Judgment what excuse can we offer? There is no Bible reason for keeping the first day of the week holy instead of the seventh day.

FACT NUMBER THREE—The people of God kept the Bible Sabbath before the Ten Commandments were given at Mount Sinai.

The Sabbath Truth was first given to our race in Eden before the fall of man. It was given before sin existed. It was given to every man to link him to his God. And if Adam needed the Sabbath, we need it all the more today.

God’s people had it before Mount Sinai. Four chapters before the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Sinai, the God of heaven spoke in such a way that it is obvious that the seventh-day Sabbath was already well-known by the people of God—but not always well-kept. Read Exodus 16.

There are those who say that the seventh-day Sabbath was not commanded by God, nor kept by man before it was spoken from Mount Sinai in Exodus 20. But Genesis 2:1-3 and Exodus 16 prove otherwise.

FACT NUMBER FOUR—The seventh-day Sabbath Commandment lies in the very heart of the Moral Law of Ten Commandments.

"Remember The Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

"Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.

"For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."—Exodus 20:8-11.

The Sabbath Commandment is part of the Moral Law of Ten Commandments. The Apostle James tells us that if we break any part of this law, we have broken it all (James 2:10-12). We cannot tear out the Fourth Commandment without setting aside all the others as well. They all stand together, because the God of Heaven put them all together.

We do not decide which day of the week is to be kept holy unto God; He alone is to do this. It is for Him to command; it is for us to obey.

Some say that Genesis 2:1-3 is not a command for man to keep the Sabbath, and therefore we do not obey it. But Exodus 16 and 20 clearly show that man is commanded to keep it holy. And who dare say that the Ten Commandments were only for the Jewish race? Are the rest of us permitted to lie, steal, cheat, and commit adultery? Are only the Hebrews to observe these ten moral principles?

The reason for the commandment is the Creation of this world: "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth." This is not something local, merely for a Semitic race—it is a commandment for all in the entire world who shall bow down and worship their Creator in humble thankfulness for His plan to save them through the life and death of Jesus Christ. It was given at the Creation of this world, and was given to every man, woman, and child who shall live on this planet.

God wrote these Ten Commandments with His own finger (Ex 31:18, Deut 9:10). He wrote them on the most enduring thing in the world, and that is rock (Ex 31:18). And He wishes to write them also on our hearts.

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them."—Hebrews 10:16 (Heb 8:10, Jer 31:33).

And, if we will let Him, through the New Covenant He will write His holy law upon our hearts. To have the Ten Commandments written on our hearts means two things: First, a willingness to obey them and, second, letting God enable us to do so by the grace of Jesus, His Son. Obedience to God’s law is to become an integral part of our lives.

FACT NUMBER FIVE—The weekly seventh-day Sabbath is part of the Moral Law contained in the Ten Commandments. It will stand forever. The yearly sabbaths were part of the ceremonial laws that prefigured, or foreshadowed, the death and ministry of Christ.

These "shadow laws," such as Passover and the Wave Sheaf which were a part of the ceremonial or sacrificial law, would not endure past the death of Christ.

"For the [ceremonial] law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? . . But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."—Hebrews 10:1-4.

These ceremonial laws were not written on rock, but were contained in ordinances and written on parchment. The rock was to endure, but the ordinances that foreshadowed the death of Christ were to pass away at His death. It is for this reason that we do not today observe the yearly sabbaths of the Passover and the Wave Sheaf.

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross . . Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."—Colossians 2:14,16-17.

In the Greek it says, "or of the sabbaths." There is one weekly Sabbath; it comes down to us from the Creation of this world and will be kept in the New Earth (Isa. 66:22-23). But the yearly sabbaths did not begin until Moses. They foreshadowed and explained the coming death of Christ till it happened; and, at His death, they were nailed to His cross.

If the ordinances containing the yearly sabbaths had not been set aside at Calvary, we would need now to sacrifice animals on various occasions throughout the year. But we are not now to slay lambs; for Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."—John 1:29.

"For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."—1 Corinthians 5:7.

FACT NUMBER SIX—Christ’s disciples faithfully kept the Bible Sabbath, not Sunday.

The disciples had been with Jesus for three and a half years, and had listened closely to His teachings. What they did at the time of His death on Calvary shows what He taught them. The sacred importance of the seventh-day Sabbath was of such concern to them that they would not even prepare the body of Jesus properly for burial on Friday, lest they transgress the Fourth Commandment.

"And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath . . Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He was laid.

"And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?"—Mark 15:42, 47-16:3.

For more on this, read Luke 23:53-24:2.

FACT NUMBER SEVEN—According to the New Testament, the Apostles of Jesus always kept the Bible Sabbath.

The Apostles kept the Bible Sabbath (Acts 13:14, 42; 16:13; 17:1-2).

Paul supported himself by tentmaking; and then, on the Sabbath, he would preach the gospel.

"Because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation, they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks . . He continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them."—Acts 18:3-4, 11.

Paul’s manner was the same as Christ’s custom: to keep the Bible Sabbath (Acts 17:1-2, Luke 4:16).

Paul never taught that the Moral Law was, or could be, set aside. It will ever govern the conduct of mankind.

"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."—Romans 3:31.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"—Romans 6:1-2.

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."—Romans 7:7.

Paul clearly saw that the problem was that we needed to obey the law; there was nothing wrong with the requirements of the law itself.

"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."—Romans 7:12.

"Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but [that which is important is] the keeping of the commandments of God."—1 Corinthians 7:19.

The moral standard that governs mankind was not relaxed or destroyed by the death of Christ; for, indeed, it is through the merits of Christ’s sacrifice that we can be empowered to keep that law.

"Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins."—Matthew 1:21.

Jesus saves us from our sins, not in our sins. And since sin is the breaking of the Ten Commandments, it is obvious that He saves us by enabling us, strengthening us, to keep that law.

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."—1 John 3:4.

The other Apostles saw this same great truth, that the moral standard that governs mankind was not relaxed or destroyed by the death of Christ:

"But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed . . For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that saith, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty . . Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."—James 1:22-25; 2:10-12, 17-18.

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous."—1 John 5:2-3.

FACT NUMBER EIGHT—God predicted, in Scripture, that men would later try to change the Law of God—and especially the "time law."

The Bible Sabbath is very important—for it is the very center of our worship of God! If men were later to try to change it to another day, we should surely expect a Bible prophecy saying that it would happen.

"And he [the little horn power] shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into His hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."—Daniel 7:25.

The church of the Dark Ages was to rule the world for 1260 years, and during this time would try to tear out God’s holy Time Law and put a counterfeit in its place. Oh, what blasphemy men can dream up, when they are tempted by Satan to gain religious control of their fellow men!

"For that day [the Second Coming of Christ] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped."—2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

God said:

"And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God."—Ezekiel 20:20.

After the New Testament was finished and the Apostles had died, men tried to transfer the sacredness from the seventh to the first day of the week. They tried to change the "time law."

Roman Catholic: "It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church."—Priest Brady, in an address at Elizabeth, N.J., March 17, 1903; reported in the Elizabeth N.J. News, March 18, 1903.

"You may search the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saterday, a day which we never sanctify."—Cardinal James Gibbon, The Faith of Our Fathers, chapter 8.

"If Protestants would follow the Bible, they should worship God on the Sabbath day. In keeping the Sunday they are following a law of the Catholic Church."—Albert Smith, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, replying for the cardinal, in a letter of February 10, 1920.

"We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty."—Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, June 20, 1894; The Great Encyclical Letters of Leo XIII, p. 304.

"Prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the Holy Catholic Church alone. The Bible says ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.’ The Catholic Church says, No. By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first day of the week. And lo! The entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the Holy Catholic Church."—Priest Thomas Enright, CSSR, President of Redemptorist College, Kansas City, MO, in a lecture at Hartford, Kansas Weekly Call, February 22, 1884, and the American Sentinel, a New York Roman Catholic journal, in June 1893, p. 173.

"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act . . AND THE ACT IS A MARK of her ecclesiastical power."—From the office of Cardinal Gibbons, through Chancellor H.F. Thomas, November 11, 1895.

How important it is that we obey the commandments of God rather than the commandments of men.

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey?"—Romans 6:16.

"It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."—Matthew 4:10.

"But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."—Matthew 15:9.

"How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him."—1 Kings 18:21.

FACT NUMBER NINE—The seventh-day Sabbath, instituted by God at the Creation of this world, is the seal of His governmental authority.

God’s basic governmental code for mankind is the Ten Commandments. Of those ten, only the Sabbath commandment reveals the name of our Creator and Lawgiver.

Of all the commandments in the Decalogue, only the Fourth Commandment reveals the (1) name, (2) authority, and (3) dominion of the Author of this Law:

In six days, (1) the Lord (name) (2) made (office—the Creator) (3) heaven and earth (dominion or territory over which He rules). This commandment alone contains the seal of God.

Examine the seal of a notary public or any other legal seal. Each seal will always contain the above three identifying marks.

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy . . for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."—Exodus 20:8, 11.

The Sabbath commandment contains the seal of God, and the Sabbath itself—given in this commandment—is inseparably connected with this seal. For the Sabbath is the basis of all true worship of our Creator. And this worship lies at the heart of all our acknowledgment of His authority as our Creator and our God. The Sabbath is ever to be kept as a sign that we belong to Him. And the keeping of it brings us within the circle of this seal.

The seal is impressed in order that all may know the authority from whence it comes—and that all may know that it is not to be changed. The seventh-day Sabbath comes from God. Let no man dare to tamper with it—for the seal of God is upon it.

"Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed."—Daniel 6:8.

"Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples."—Isaiah 8:16.

"It [the Sabbath] is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed."—Exodus 31:17.

"And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God."—Ezekiel 20:20.

The Sabbath is a powerful sign of God’s creative power—not only of this earth, but within our lives as well. It requires the same power to clean our lives and redeem us as it did to create us in the first place.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God."—Psalm 51:10.

"We are . . created in Christ Jesus unto good works."— Ephesians 2:10.

The Bible tells us there is to be a special sealing work in these last days, just before the return of Jesus in the clouds of heaven.

"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels . . saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."—Revelation 7:2-3 (Eze 9:1-6).

"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."—Revelation 14:1.

The name of the Father is expressive of His character. When Moses asked to see the glory of God, the Lord passed by and told His name—that which He was like:

"The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth."—Exodus 34:6.

And as we look at God’s holy law, we see another view of His character. It is a transcript of that character. It is God’s characteristics written on everlasting stone. He wants us to live it out in our lives.

When God writes His name on your forehead and right hand, this means He writes His law on your heart. This is the work of the new covenant (Heb 8:10, 10:16, Jer 31:33); and that work reaches its climax when God "seals in" His own people, just before He returns the second time in the clouds of heaven. What are those sealed ones like? They are fully obedient to the Law of God:

"And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God."—Revelation 14:5.

But in the final crisis before His return, there will be a people who will yield obedience to the beast instead of to God.

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God."—Revelation 14:9-10.

"And he [the beast] causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads."—Revelation 13:16.

In contrast with those who serve the beast and receive his mark are those who, in the last days, will serve God and receive His seal. How can they be identified? God has told us in His Word. Here is a description of God’s remnant people at the end of time:

"And the dragon [Satan, working through his agents] was wroth with the woman [the true church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."—Revelation 12:17.

And the third angel of Revelation 14, which warns men to not receive the mark of the beast, also tells them how to avoid receiving it—by keeping the commandments of God through the faith of Jesus Christ:

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture . . Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."—Revelation 14:9-10, 12.

The final crisis will be caused by a decree of the beast, that all men must disobey a commandment of the law of God. The nations and churches of the world will not require men to steal or lie or commit adultery. The growing movement toward national Sunday laws is growing stronger every passing year. It is seen that in this point, and in this alone, will be found the heart of the crisis of Revelation 13 and 14.

The first angel of Revelation 14 calls on all men everywhere, today, to reverence God—by returning to the worship of the Creator of all things.

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.

"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."—Revelation 14:6-7.

As the crisis nears, we must prepare for it.

"The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the [Catholic] Church."—Monsignor Louis Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, p. 213.

Already we are facing Sunday closing laws on local levels. Men are prohibited from doing business on the first working day of the week, lest they be fined or imprisoned. And the situation will grow worse in the days just ahead.

"That the image of the beast should both speak, and cause [decree] that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark."—Revelation 13:15-17.

But there is victory for those who will stand true to the God of heaven. There is overcoming power for those who will "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Rev 14:12).

"And I saw . . them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."—Revelation 15:2.

FACT NUMBER TEN—God’s remnant people will keep the Bible Sabbath, and that holy day will be kept throughout eternity.

(1) Even though there are over two thousand denominations today, the remnant people of God, living at the end of time, can be identified. God has identified them for us. After speaking about how the antichrist power in the Dark Ages tried for centuries to destroy the people of God, we are told how to identify them in these last days, just before Christ returns in the clouds for His own:

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."—Revelation 12:17.

And the third angel, after warning all men against receiving the mark of the beast, tells us clearly who will be the little group that will stand apart from this almost universal apostasy:

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."—Revelation 14:12.

It will be an almost universal apostasy. All around us can be seen a rising tide of rebellion against the Ten Commandments. The colleges and universities teach that man is but an animal descended from worms and amoeba. The churches teach that God destroyed the Ten Commandments at Calvary and that Jesus died to take sinners to heaven just as they are. Governmental agencies are relaxing moral restrictions and permitting gambling, abortion, homosexuality, and other vices.

This world is becoming a curse, but soon God will intervene. Prophecy tells us that before the end there will be a small company who will stand true to the commandments of God, by faith in Jesus Christ.

(2) And soon this present evil world will be ended suddenly by the return of Jesus Christ—and heaven will begin for the faithful.

And, in that heaven, the seventh-day Sabbath will be kept forever. God’s people suffered and died for it down here, and they will worship God on that holy day through all ages to come.

Revelation 21 and 22 tells us about this new life with Jesus, when sin has come to an end and the wicked are no longer alive.

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea . . And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."—Revelation 21:1; 22:1.

And then we are told who will enter that beautiful new world:

"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."—Revelation 22:14.

But more: There is the promise that they will keep the holy Sabbath through all eternity.

"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind . . And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands . . The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock; and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord . .

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. 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 65:17, 21-22, 25; 66:22-23.

Now you have seen God’s plan for His people. And it is a wonderful one. It can begin for you right now. And it will continue on throughout eternity. Why not begin today—this very week? Ask God to forgive you for the past, and tell Him that, by His grace, you will worship your Creator on His day! This is the best decision you can make. Go to Him just now. He will help you make it.

And next Sabbath—begin that holy walk with God on His day, the holy day of Isaiah 58. Read that chapter and see the blessings He will add, if you will but let Him take over your life.

But think not that there will be no problems or trials. Satan will bring many upon you. He hates the Sabbath and all who will stand loyal to it. Yet if you will determine to be true to God and His Word, you will have strength from above to go through all that lies ahead.

And one day soon, if faithful to the end, you with the redeemed of all ages will rejoice on the sea of glass and will receive from the hand of Jesus the overcomer’s crown. And you will be given that new name, expressive of a new character. And you will begin a walk with Jesus that will last through all eternity to come.

"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence come they?

"And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."—Revelation 7:13-17.

THE BIBLE:

DIVINE GUIDANCE FOR YOUR LIFE

What is the purpose of the Bible?

2 Peter 1:21—"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

John 20:30-31—"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."

Psalm 119:11—"Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee."

Psalm 119:105—"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Romans 15:4—"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

How should we study the Bible?

Acts 17:11—"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

Isaiah 28:10—"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little."

2 Timothy 2:15—"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

John 5:39—"Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me."

THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION:

GOD’S PLAN TO SAVE YOU FROM SIN

Romans 3:23—"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Isaiah 59:2—"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear."

Romans 6:23—"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

2 Peter 3:9—"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Exodus 34:6-7—"The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty."

John 3:16-20—"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."

Luke 19:10—"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Matthew 1:21—"He shall save His people from their sins."

Isaiah 53:6—"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Acts 16:31—"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

2 Corinthians 6:2—"Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

John 1:12—"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."

Galatians 2:20—"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

John 3:3—"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

2 Corinthians 5:17—"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Philippians 2:13—"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

Hebrews 10:16—"I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them."

1 John 1:9—"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Philippians 4:13—"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

OBEDIENCE BY FAITH:

HOW GOD ENABLES YOU TO OBEY HIM

1 - GOD HAS A GOVERNMENT

Psalm 103:19—"The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all."

2 - THERE CAN BE NO GOVERNMENT WITHOUT LAW

Romans 7:12—"The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."

Romans 7:14—"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin."

Proverbs 28:9—"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

3 - GOD’S LAW WAS FOR MEN IN BIBLE TIMES

Romans 3:31—"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

James 2:10-12—"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."

4 - GOD’S LAW IS FOR THE REMNANT IN THE LAST DAYS

Revelation 12:17—"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Revelation 14:12—"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (also verses 13-15).

5 - THERE IS GENERAL REBELLION AGAINST GOD’S LAW

Romans 8:7—"The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

Psalm 119:126—"It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law."

6 - THERE ARE PROMISES FOR THE OBEDIENT

Psalm 119:165—"Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

Isaiah 48:18—"O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."

7 - THE SACRIFICIAL LAWS WERE ABOLISHED AT THE CROSS

(Hebrews 10:1-16)

Colossians 2:14—"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross."

Colossians 2:17—"Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."

8 - WHAT DOES THE LAW DO FOR THE SINNER?

God uses the law to do for the sinner just what needs to be done. The sinner must realize that he is a sinner. The heavy hand of the law must be laid upon him, and he must be arrested in his course. Notice the following carefully:

1. It gives a knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:20—"By the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom 7:7).

2. It brings guilt and condemnation.

Romans 3:19—"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

3. It acts as a spiritual mirror.

James 1:23-25—"If any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (aso James 2:9-12).

Without the law, the sinner is like a man who is afflicted with a deadly disease that he doesn’t know he has. Paul said, "I had not known sin, but by the law" (Rom 7:7).

9 - WHAT IS THE LAW UNABLE TO DO FOR THE SINNER?

The law cannot forgive. Law does not possess the power to forgive those who transgress its precepts. Only the Lawgiver can do that. Jesus died to redeem us from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). The law cannot keep the sinner from sinning because "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:7).

The law only shows the sinner where he needs to change; but the law, itself, cannot change him. And so let us get three facts about the law very clear.

1. It cannot forgive or justify.

Romans 3:20—"By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight."

2. It cannot keep from sin or sanctify.

Galatians 3:21—"Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law."

3. It cannot cleanse or keep the heart clean (Rom 9:3, 7-8).

The law is limited in its ability to do all that needs to be done for the sinner. A wound cannot be sewed up with only a needle. The thread of the gospel must do that.

10 - WHAT DOES THE GRACE OF CHRIST DO FOR THE SINNER?

When the law of God and the Spirit of God have made the sinner conscious of his sin, he will then feel his need of Christ and go to the Saviour for pardon. The publican found it so (Luke 18:13-14). The woman taken in adultery felt condemned and ashamed. She needed sympathy and forgiveness, and Christ was ready to grant these to her. Then He said, "Sin no more."

If we confess and put away sin, He will forgive (1 John 1:9). This is grace, or unmerited favor. This gracious love of Christ awakens love in the heart of the sinner, and he then desires to serve and obey God. Here are four elements of the saving grace of Christ:

1. It forgives and justifies.

Acts 13:38-39—"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Luke 18:13-14).

2. It saves from sin, or sanctifies.

Matthew 1:21—"She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins."

1 Corinthians 1:30—"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

3. It inspires faith.

Ephesians 2:8-10—"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

4. It brings God’s power.

Romans 1:16—"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Forgiveness of sin and power over sin come through the exercise of simple faith in God’s promises and a full surrender of the heart to Him.

11 - HOW DOES A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE RELATE TO THE LAW?

1. The law becomes the standard of his life.

1 John 5:3—"This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments."

2. He permits Christ to fulfill in him the righteousness of the law.

Romans 8:3-4—"God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

3. Christ writes the law in his heart.

Hebrews 8:10—"This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people" (also Ps 119:11).

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because He trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." —Isaiah 26:3-4

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." —Psalm 34:18

Summary

The worship of Mithra, the dying-rising Sun god who returns to life each December 25. —Later being transformed into the "Christ mass" celebration.

The worship of Ishtar, the goddess of love and licentiousness, and her god son, Tammuz, who is resurrected each spring. —Later becoming the "Easter" celebration.

The worship of black cats, ghosts, bonfires, witches, demons, and the dead on the eve before Hallows Day, each October 31. —Later adopting the form of the "Halloween" celebration.

Source Index

Acts of the Apostles, 291-292 43

Ambrose, Sermo vii. 13 33

Andrews, Samuel J., The Life of Our Lord Upon the Earth, 17 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1891) 19

Bede, De temp. rat., ch. 13 33

Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, 1022 86

Bibiothica Sacra, Vol. 12, 153-155 42

Brady, Priest, in an address at Elizabeth, N.J., March 17, 1903; reported in the Elizabeth N.J. News, March 18, 1903 109

British Parliament Act of 1644 33

Buck, Charles, Theological Dictionary, "Christmas," 71 (Philadelphia: Crissy and Markley, copyright 1851) 19

Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 ed., "Christmas." 6

Clarke, Adam, Commentary, Vol. 5, 370 5

Code of Justinian, Book 111, title 12, law 3 13

Constantine, Edict of Milan 13

Council of Trent, Session 13: Decree on the Eucharist, chap. 5 (Denz. 878, 1648) 41

Counsels on Health, 458 73

Cumont, Franz, Astrology and Religion Among the Greeks and Romans (reprint; New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1960), 89-90 23

Cumont, Franz, The Mysteries of Mithra, Trans. by T.J. McCormack, 167, 191 22

Cyprian, De orat. dom 35) 33

De Pascha computus 32

Dickens, Charles, A Christmas Carol 35

Durant, Will, History of Civilization, Vol. 1, 127 54

Durant, Will, History of Civilization, Vol. 1, 235 54

Durant, Will, History of Civilization, Vol. 1, 238-239 54

Durant, Will, History of Civilization, Vol. 1, 296-297 53

Durant, Will, History of Civilization, Vol. 1, 372 57

Durant, Will, History of Civilization, Vol. 2, 178 55

Encyclopedia Americana (1944 edition), "Christmas." 7

Encyclopedia Britannica (1946 ed.) 8

Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. VI, "Christmas," 293, 294, 11th edition 34

English Puritans 33

Enright, Priest Thomas, CSSR, President of Redemptorist College, Kansas City, MO, in a lecture at Hartford, Kansas Weekly Call, February 22, 1884, and the American Sentinel (a New York Roman Catholic journal), June 1893, 173 109

Episcopus Puerorum 31

Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, quoted in Commentary on the Psalms, in Migne, Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 23, Col. 1171 14

Fausset, A.R., Bible Dictionary, 666 9

Gibbon, Cardinal James, The Faith of Our Fathers, chapter 8 109

Grueber, H.A., Myths of Northern Lands, Vol. I (New York, 1895), 61 38

Great Controversy, 48 63

Great Controversy, 49-50 63

Great Controversy, 574 14

Haskins, Frederick J., Answers to Questions 40

Hippolytus, Commentary, "Daniel 4:23" (c. A.D. 202) 32

Hislop, Alexander, The Two Babylons, 7th edition, 92-94 26

Hyde, Walter Woodburn, Paganism to Christianity in the Roman Empire, 60 23

Hyde, Walter Woodburn, Paganism to Christianity in the Roman Empire, 249-250 18

Irving, Washington, Sketch Book 35

Justinian, Code of, Book 111, title 12, law 3 13

Laing, Gordon J., Survivals of Roman Religion (New York: Longmans, 1931), 150-153 22

Laing, Gordon J., Survivals of Roman Religion (New York: Longmans, 1931), 58, 62-65 31

Lamer, H., "Mithras," Worterbuch der Antike, 2nd ed. (Leipzig: A. Kroner, 1933) 22

Langdon, Stephen H., "Semitic Mythology," in The Mythology of All Races, Vol. 5 (Boston: Archaeological Institute of America, Marshall Jones Company, 1931), 15-19 28

Lange, John P., Church History, Vol. 2, 395 (N.Y.) 28

Lange, John Peter, Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, "Luke 2:36 (New York: Charles Scribner & Co., 1870) 29

Magdeburg Centuriators (i. 3, 118) 31

Migne, Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 23, Col. 1171 14

Mommsen 32

Newman, A.H, "Christmas," New Scaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. 3, 47 18

Newman, A.H, "Christmas," New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge 6

Origen, "Eighth Homily on Leviticus" 32

Origen, quoted in Catholic Encyclopedia, "Natal Day." 11th ed. 6

Parliament, Act of 1644 33

Patriarchs and Prophets, 684-685 73

Polycarp 33

Pope Gregory III (A.D. 731-741) 65

Pope Gregory IV (827-844) 65

Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, June 20, 1894; The Great Encyclical Letters of Leo XIII, p. 304 109

Segur, Monsignor Louis, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, 213 113

Smith, Albert, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, letter dated February 10, 1920 (Replying for Cardinal Gibbons) 109

Southern Publishing Association, "Easter: Where It Came From" 44

Sozomen, quoted in Ecclesiastical History, book 7, chapter 19; now in A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, Vol. 2 15

Steps to Christ, 51 to 111 (abridged) 100

Steps to Christ, 9-51 (abridged) 92

Strom., i. 21 17

Theophilus of Antioch 31

Thomas, H.F., writing for Cardinal James Gibbons, November 11, 1895 110

Vatican II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents 41

von Mosheim, John Laurence, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, book 2, cent. 4, part 2, chap. 4, sec. 5 (Vol. I, 372-373). London: Longman & Co., 1841 19

World Book, Vol. 1, 782 52

Weiser, Francis X., Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., 1958), 60-62 21

Weiser, Francis X., Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., 1958), 60-62 36

Weiser, Francis X., Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., 1958), 103-104 39

Weiser, Francis X., Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., 1958), 113-114 38

Weiser, Francis X., Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, 312-313 71

Weiser, Francis X., Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., 1958), 315-316 70