Keeping the Sabbath: The Modern Seventh-day Adventist Conundrum 

Thank you sis. Will do.

Thanks sis. Blessings to you.

Hispoet Johnson praise God sis. When the lens come off and Scripture is understood in context, the Holy Spirit can move and reveal these things to us. I'm happy that you're being blessed by the teachings.

Blessed beyond measure my bro! Indeed

That's true.

Thank you brother. God bless you too.

Excellent

What a compliment 😄 Thank you.

Sorry that I'm just seeing this. They use s variety of prooftexts and assumptions. Dan.8:14, Lev. 16 Day of Atonement, Hebrews, etc. But the underlying fact though is that the Bible doesn't teach that doctrine. It's grounded in their prophet Ellen White and then they hunt prooftexts and bad logics to justify it.

Amen sis

Hello bro, no problem. This is an excerpt from my book on it: “Such understanding is the thrust of Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 where God’s rest and redemption is discussed. God’s “rest” of redemption and salvation in Jesus is said to can be entered into “Today”, that is, whenever we hear the gospel and believe it (4:2-3, 6-7). The author then went on to state that God’s rest has been standing from the creation of the world (4:3) and it remains for some to enter into “Today” (4:6, 9). In 4:9 the Greek word for “rest”- σαββατισμος (sabbatismos), meaning “a Sabbath-rest, a Sabbath-keeping,” is misunderstood by Sabbatarians, in that, they think that this text is calling for New Covenant believers to literally keep the weekly Sabbath. But such an interpretation is far from what is revealed in the text. Here are some reasons that this text is not calling for a literal weekly Sabbath-keeping: (1) The rest that Hebrews 3 and 4 is speaking about is God’s rest after Creation, not the seventh-day Sabbath (4:4; cf. Gen. 2:1-3). (2) God’s rest of creation remains to this day for us to enter into (4:6). (3) The majority of the Israelites in the time of Joshua and David (who kept the Sabbath and all the other feasts) failed to enter into God’s rest because of a lack of faith and disobedience (3:16-4:2, 6-8). (4) The Book of Hebrews was written to an audience of Jewish Christians who were still keeping the Sabbath and the feasts, and despite this could have failed to enter God’s rest if they lacked faith or were disobedient. (vs. 1, 2, 11). (5) God’s rest is entered into by faith, when we hear the Gospel and believe it (4:1-3). (6) The phrase “another day” (4:8) and the constant refrain, “Today,” means that whenever we hear the Gospel and believe, we immediately enter into God’s rest (3:7, 13, 15; 4:7). It would be absurd to think that this can happen only once a week, on the Sabbath. (7) The one who has entered into God’s rest has ceased from his works just as God did from His. Point number 7 provides strong, compelling evidence that these passages are not talking about literal Sabbath-keeping, but some elaboration is necessary to demonstrate this fact. The two aorist verbs in 4:10 in the Greek contain profound nuggets. The verb “has entered” is the Gr. εἰσελθὼν (eiselthon- second aorist active participle) and “has rested” is the Gr. κατέπαυσεν (katepausen- aorist active indicative). The aorist tense in the Greek speaks to instantaneous action, whether in the past, present, or future. In this passage, the aorist tense is referring to past action-when one “heard the gospel and believed” (vs. 2-3)-indicating that one instantly entered into God’s rest at that time. Both verbs are in the active voice, which means that the action was performed by the subject with continued effect-ongoing, habitual state. To put it all together, what this means is that when one heard the Gospel and believed it, one instantaneously entered into God’s rest and one continues to abide in that state of rest. That’s what those two aorist verbs are connoting! And one ceased from one’s own works as God did (past) from His, not as God does (present repetitive continuous). God worked for six days and rested once and for all from His work; His rest is not a cyclical, once-a-week rest. God has been resting from the time of His initial rest (Gen. 2:1-3) and He continues to abide in that state of rest to this day and ad infinitum. So too, like God, when we hear the Gospel and believe it, we enter into His rest once and for all and remain in that state of rest. This is the σαββατισμος-“Sabbath-keeping”-that Hebrews 4 encourages the believer to keep and to enter into.”--- Elce “Thunder” Lauriston, All Foods are Clean and Every Day is the Sabbath, p. 78-80.

“Furthermore, Hebrews 4:9-10 could not have been telling us to “keep the Sabbath” once a week as God does because God does not keep the Sabbath-not once a week-not at all, never (John 5:15-20). If God were to cease working for one day or keep one Sabbath, the universe would immediately collapse and everything would instantaneously die (Acts 17:28; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3). Therefore, the Sabbatarian who uses Hebrews 3 and 4 as an argument for literal and mandatory Sabbath-keeping is theologically and linguistically misguided. The thrust of these passages is saving rest and redemption in Christ now and the anticipation of the eternal rest to come later. Paul clearly teaches that Christians are free to keep or not to keep the Sabbath. Although this concept may seem strange to Christians who fully understand the implications of the Gospel, they are not free to condemn Sabbath-keepers simply because they have chosen to do so. Paul’s revelation of the freedom that Christians find in the gospel takes such burdens off of the Body of Christ. The principle that we are permitted to esteem any day or not to esteem any day seems to be his way of teaching us that in essence, every day with Jesus in our hearts is the Sabbath because Jesus is our Sabbath. On the other hand, it would seem that Paul’s sentiment would be properly represented by saying that he taught that individuals who teach mandatory Sabbath-keeping would be following in the footsteps of the heretical Judaizers. Further evidence that this view is correct is the fact that Paul spent a great amount of time fighting the Judaizing heresy in the apostolic church (Acts 15; the Book of Galatians; Col. 2; Titus 1; etc.,). Paul teaches that Sabbath observance is a matter of personal conviction. Believers may feel free to keep the seventh-day Sabbath, keep any other day of the week, or not keep any day at all. What matters is not what “day” we keep, but Who we “keep”-Jesus Christ. A logical extension of Paul’s teaching about “days” would be that as we “keep” Jesus, the Real Sabbath, in our hearts, His Presence there “keeps” every day of our lives as a true spiritual rest that we could never achieve in our own power.”--- Elce “Thunder” Lauriston, All Foods are Clean and Every Day is the Sabbath, p. 80-81.

If you desire, I can provide other scholarly sources that come to the same conclusions as I have.

Happy Sabbath my Brother, The arguments presented are weak. I would prefer a more scholarly discussion on the matter ( hope you can allow me to be honest). We should Let the Bible Speak through the Holy Spirit, as we read Hebrews 4, We cannot share that the Apostle is suggesting a freedom from resting on the Sabbath as commanded by God from creation (Seventh-day of the Week)... and allow me to be clear, I am discussing here with an open mind and a Spirit of learning and growth. The Writer of the Hebrews makes it clear that the rest still stands, referring to the command in Eden and made it clear that God rested. Actually, the writer quoted Genesis 2:2B; and goes even futher in stating that God " would not have later spoken of another day". Therefore, he was reaffirming the Sabbath as was presented in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden, before the fall. Important to Note my brother is the fact that Jesus taught that it is good to do good on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:12). Remember earlier in the same chapter Jesus taught " Or haven't you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?" ( Matthew 12:5). The Pharisees were making the Sabbath a Burden and Jesus taught differently (Mark 2:27). The Bible in Genesis 2:2 makes it clear that God rested on the Sabbath day "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." According to you "If God were to cease working for one day or keep one Sabbath, the universe would immediately collapse and everything would instantaneously die (Acts 17:28; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3)." However, Niether history or the bible reveal that such happened after God kept the sabbath after creation. The earth never stopped spinning, there are no records that Planets fell or stars fell. God is too powerful to be boxed in!

You-- "The arguments presented are weak. I would prefer a more scholarly discussion on the matter ( hope you can allow me to be honest)." If my arguments are weak, I don't know how to classify yours other than wild and assumptive. You-- "We should Let the Bible Speak through the Holy Spirit, as we read Hebrews 4, We cannot share that the Apostle is suggesting a freedom from resting on the Sabbath as commanded by God from creation (Seventh-day of the Week)..." Proves point exactly, wild assumptions. The apostle is revealing in Heb. 3 and 4 that Jesus is a better rest of which the Sabbath of the Exodus was a mere shadow. The Apostle is explicit about freedom to rest or not on the Sabbath or any other day (Rom. 14:5-6; Col. 2:16-17). Can you kindly show me where a Sabbath existed in Creation and where God commanded it as you state. You-- "The Writer of the Hebrews makes it clear that the rest still stands, referring to the command in Eden and made it clear that God rested. Actually, the writer quoted Genesis 2:2B; and goes even futher in stating that God " would not have later spoken of another day"." Yes, the rest STILL STANDS but what is this REST? It is God's rest not Sabbath-keeping. The Sabbath is never presented in Scripture as "God's Rest." Again, stop reading your preconceptions into Scripture!! There is NO COMMAND in Eden about any Sabbath. The "another day" that God spoke of is another opportunity to enter into His rest that Israel missed in Joshua's day and also in David's day , hence the author calls for his audience (Jews) to enter into this rest "Today," whenever one hears the Gospel and believe it. Again, it would be silly of the author to be telling them to keep the Sabbath and it is God's rest, when they were already doing! And if the Sabbath is God's rest of Heb. 4, how is it that his audience, though keeping it, could still fail to enter into God's rest? Again, Genesis 2:1-3 is about GOD'S REST not Sabbath-keeping. The Sabbath and the other feasts of Israel were BASED ON GOD'S REST but they ARE NOT God's rest. So kindly, stop reading your assumptions into Genesis. Hebrews 3-4 is teaching something similar to what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, come unto HIM for rest NOT THE SABBATH! You-- "Therefore, he was reaffirming the Sabbath as was presented in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden, before the fall. " Again, please prove a Sabbath in Eden, whether commanded or expected to be kept. You're reading a Sabbath into Genesis does not magically create one there. You-- "Important to Note my brother is the fact that Jesus taught that it is good to do good on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:12). Remember earlier in the same chapter Jesus taught " Or haven't you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?" ( Matthew 12:5). The Pharisees were making the Sabbath a Burden and Jesus taught differently (Mark 2:27)." Are you sure you want to resort to these non-contextual prooftexts? These passages are not propping up your assumptions at all, when read contextually. Of course it was good for Jews to do good on the Sabbath. Believers should do good all the time, not just on the Sabbath. Should I understand you to be suggesting that we should do the opposite of good works when it is not the Sabbath? Matthew 12 is actually proving that the Sabbath is a ceremonial law that can be violated to perform greater obligations yet remain one's innocence for breaking it, thus subjecting the Sabbath to man's disposal and not man to the Sabbath's disposal. You-- "The Bible in Genesis 2:2 makes it clear that God rested on the Sabbath day "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work."" Again, please do better and stop reading your assumptions into the text. The text does not say "Sabbath day" here, it says "the seventh day" which is an on-going rest for God that man supposed to forever remain in with Him, but sin broke that rest--hence Heb. 4 says it still stands and encourages us to enter into it by faith in Christ and believing the Gospel. We do not enter into God's rest by going to church on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. God's rested from CREATION. He did not resume recreating anything the following day. That work was complete! He continues to work today and even on the Sabbath (John 5:16-17), but His work is not creating up sustaining the universe. You-- "According to you "If God were to cease working for one day or keep one Sabbath, the universe would immediately collapse and everything would instantaneously die (Acts 17:28; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3)." However, Niether history or the bible reveal that such happened after God kept the sabbath after creation. The earth never stopped spinning, there are no records that Planets fell or stars fell. God is too powerful to be boxed in!" Your are so myopic in your Sabbatarian assumptions that you can't see the strength of my argument nor the weaknesses of yours. Kindly show me where does Scripture state that God "kept the Sabbath after creation" and HOW did God keep it (what were those activities that demonstrated that He was keeping a Sabbath?). How does God "keep the Sabbath" when Jesus says He does not keep the Sabbath? (John 5: 16 Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” 18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill Him: Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.) You are the one who is boxing an ETERNAL GOD into a 24 hr period by saying that He "kept the Sabbath." Not even angels keep the Sabbath, as it was "made for man" (Mark 2:27-28), and not for them, yet you are suggesting that the Eternal One is confined to Sabbath-keeping. Get real! Again, if God subscribes to the rules of Sabbath-keeping of the OT law and the ones that you Sabbatarians impose on the Sabbath today, my argument would prove true---"If God were to cease working for one day or keep one Sabbath, the universe would immediately collapse and everything would instantaneously die (Acts 17:28; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3)."

Amen. The emphatic word their is "even" and it points to the fact that He's Lord of EVERY DAY, including the Sabbath, which the Pharisees had believed was outside of His Lordship. And because He's Lord of EVERY DAY, He determines what is acceptable behaviour on them, hence the behaviours of His disciples He allowed and justified on that Sabbath.

The text is self-explanatory. I'm not seeing what you're having a difficulty understanding in the text. 1Ti 6:1-2 LHB 1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke consider their own masters as worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

Maggie St hello sis. I dealt with some issues of Daniel 8:14 on my Leaving Adventism, Embracing the Gospel interview.

Elce Lauriston Please enlighten me. 1- Daniel 8:14 2- Present Truth

2nd Peter 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Paul Miller spare me that false judgment and accusation bro. If you disagree with my exposition of Scripture and the issues I raised, simply respond to them and provide answers. No need for the prooftexted condemnation.

BBN 102.3 FM TV WOW...why on Earth would they be counted against him in heaven? Remove your religious blinders and hopefully you will be able to see clearly.

Your aguement is weak. Your very well learnt but your fighting against the law of God which he wrote with his own finger

@@latoyaredwaymcmillan5857 God doesn’t have fingers. God is spirit. Written by the finger of God simply means God has the authority to declare what he wants when he wants. It’s about power and authority- not about literally writing with an imaginary finger. You are spiritually dead and think like a child.

​@@latoyaredwaymcmillan5857ELCE argument is weak? Because he points out the hypocritical nature of sda's who do not actually keep the sabbath as per scriptures requirements?

Absolutely