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Daily Devotionals

A Touch of Eden

April 17th, 2026

It’s been called the world’s largest natural flower garden. The Dubai Miracle Garden not only provides a stunning display of over 60 million flowers, it’s a miracle in itself because it sits in the hot, arid desert. The garden opened in 2013 and attracts up to 1.5 million visitors each year.

Over 86,000 square yards of displays greet visitors who are tired of malls, concrete, and steel. Floral structures—including a life-size replica of the Emirates Airbus A380—are covered in beautiful flowers seven months of the year. The 104-degree temperatures make it too challenging to grow flowers in the summer.

When the Lord presented the Garden of Eden to our first parents within the perfect environment of our world, untarnished by sin, it must have been a jaw-dropping sight. God created our planet to communicate His love for humanity. “The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed” (Genesis 2:8).

The Lord’s creatorship shows that He is Father of all people. “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10). It makes all humans brothers and sisters and eliminates any room for racism, bigotry, and other forms of discrimination.

Creation also establishes our responsibility to care for the earth. “God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’ ” (Genesis 1:28). Even the dignity of manual labor is seen from the beginning, for the Lord asked Adam to “tend and keep” the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15).

Though our world is filled with evil and sin has marred the creation, it was not that way in the beginning. The Bible says, “His work is perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4). Everything God made was pronounced “good” (Genesis 1:10, 12, 17, 21, 25). When you visit a flower garden, look closely and you will see glimpses of our first home.

Apply It:

Visit a flower garden or purchase a bouquet of flowers for someone you love. As you enjoy them, think of the very first garden-home given to us by God.

Dig Deeper:

Job 12:7–10; Psalm 24:1; Colossians 1:16, 17

Key Bible Texts
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 KJV)

Good morning, brethren.

1. Morning devotion for today.

i. MORNING TEA
THE WORD FOR TODAY. FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2026.
"INSTRUMENT RATED (9)"

‘…Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.’  Ephesians 6:4 NIV

INSTRUMENT RATED for parenthood. Parents today face unique problems that no other generation has. But God’s Word is timeless, so: 1) Enforce discipline. ‘Whom the Lord loves He corrects…’ (Proverbs 3:12 NKJV). A famous evangelist says when he was growing up his mother had a belt that hung on the wall of their home with a text written above it: ‘I need thee every hour’. Teach your child that every decision has consequences. And don’t rescue them from their consequences, for life won’t let them off the hook when they do wrong. 2) Teach them God’s ways. ‘Train up a child in the way that he should go: and…he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV). Give your child a taste of the things of God when they are young, and when they’re older the world won’t be able to satisfy their taste. 3) Commit them to the Lord. This isn’t easy; it’s like allowing them to take the family car out for the first time. But there comes a point where God, not you, must speak to them and guide them. They’ll either learn the easy way or the hard way. And even if they do go astray, God promises that they’ll come back again (Jeremiah 31:16-17). So pray, ‘Lord, they’re Yours now. I’ve taught them and set an example, now I give them to You. Deal with them according to Your perfect will’. Does that mean everything will be okay from that point on? Maybe, and maybe not. But like a pilot who flies according to his instruments, you must stand on the Word of God for your children.

Bible In A Year: Dan 8-10, Ps 103:13-22, Pro 10:14. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation.

*To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.* .

ii. FREE ACCESS TO GOD'S THRONE

"In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." - Ephesians 3:12

One of the greatest privileges a Christian has, is free access to God the Father. This means that we, who have a relationship with God through Jesus, have access to God 24 hours a day, yes, every minute.

Lucifer tried to overthrow God to get the throne himself, but the Almighty God has defeated Lucifer. Hebrews 10:12 says that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father. Through Jesus we have access to God's mercy seat.

A gap between God and man

Previously, in the Old Testament, there were only a few people who had limited access to God. Abraham was such a man and was called God's friend. Moses was a man who was in contact with God. God has always wanted to live among people, but this was impossible because of sin. Sin separates man from God. There came a gap between God and man since Adam and Eve, who first lived in perfect harmony with God, became disobedient.

Free access for everyone

Since God wanted to be among His people, Moses was instructed to build a tabernacle (tent). God would then reside in the Holy of Holies. There was only one person who could enter the Holy of Holies once a year. There was an important condition attached to this. He had to take blood (from an animal) with him when he entered. Entering without that blood would mean immediate death for the high priest.

When Jesus' blood flowed on the cross, the curtain, which was blocking the access to the Holy of Holies, tore open. Access became free for everyone to approach God each second of the day.

Paul says in Romans 5:1-2: 'Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.'


https://www.theblessingdevotional.com

2. Morning Prayer for today.

i. Morning Prayer

Rejoice in the Lord always: [and] again I say, Rejoice. ⏤ Philippians 4:4

We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and bring its power down to earth. ⏤ Andrew Murray

O God, our Father, we thank You for this bright morning. We want to share in the joy that’s all around us. All of Your creation praises You, and we want to join in that praise—not just with our lips, but with our hearts and lives. We want our lives to be like songs that bring joy to those around us. Help us live victoriously today, not letting our cares and trials get the best of us, but keeping Your praise in our hearts even in the darkest times and toughest challenges. Breathe Your Spirit into our souls this morning so that we can go out and live with cheerfulness all day. Don’t let the hard things discourage us or take the joy out of our hearts and the brightness out of our faces.

We thank You that You’ve promised to give us what we need. We know that while You are always with us, You come even closer to us when we’re in trouble; that while You always give us strength, You give us even more when we’re feeling weak. Come to us today in exactly the way we need.

Sometimes we get discouraged and frustrated. Keep us today from falling into these negative moods. Help us live among our neighbors in such a way that they see that we have God helping us. Keep us from worry and anxiety. Teach us to cast all our cares on Jesus, who cares for us. May we trust You so completely that no matter what happens, we can be happy and strong in You.

We pray for everyone in our home. Prepare us for all the duties, tasks, and responsibilities of the day. Keep us safe from accidents and bring us back together again in the evening. We ask all these things, along with the forgiveness of our sins, in the Savior’s precious name. Amen.

https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/12/morning

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Good evening, brethren.

1. Evening devotion for today.

i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST*
(COCIN DEVOTIONAL)

*DATE:*
THURSDAY 16TH APRIL, 2026

*SUB-THEME:*
THE CROSS: CULMINATION OF GRACE.

*TOPIC:*
REQUIRES TOTAL ALLEGIANCE

*TEXT:*
ACTS 4:16-20
16. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.
17. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18. Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges!
20. As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

*TOPIC:*
REQUIRES TOTAL ALLEGIANCE

*THE MESSAGE:*
Jesus had assured the disciples of the presence of the Holy Spirit whenever they faced opposition from the authorities (Mt. 12:11-12). The priests, temple guard, and the Sadducees brought Peter and John to the Jewish council after healing a lame man. Though unable to deny the miracle, the leaders attempted to silence them to prevent the spread of the Gospel of Christ. However, Peter and John responded, "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (v. 20). Following Christ demands total allegiance to God above all earthly authorities. Today, Christians are facing similar threats from ungodly authorities and hostile communities. Our obedience to God must supercede human opposition. God called believers to prioritise His command over fear, pressure, or persecution and declare God's truth regardless of the cost.

*REFLECTION:*
Do not submit to threats.

*PRAYER:*
Lord Jesus, help me to stand my ground without fear. Amen.

*MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:*
COLOSSIANS 2:15.
"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

*TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:*
1 CHRONICLES 6-10.

ii. Skip to content
Dalily Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth

Posted onApril 16, 2026 by Editor
Surrendered
Christian Applications Store:: Christian devotional App Store; Explore Recommended Christian Books and Devotionals
Complete surrender,
Surrendered absolutely.
– not in your strength but in His,

Absolute yielding,
Yielded completely.
– remember “It is God that worketh in us….”

Full submission,
Entirely devoted.
– not for your glory, but for His.

Humble obedience,
Obedient humility.
-both to will and to do of His good pleasure”

This is the foundation of happiness,
This is the superstructure of joy.

This is the bedrock of blessedness,
This is the core of communion with Him.

Complete surrender – surrendered absolutely.
Absolute yielding – yielded completely.
Full submission – entirely devoted.
Humble obedience – obedient humility.

Only the one that lays down ALL ego, ALL self, ALL of the flesh
Will receive the fullness of Who He really is

But it requires:-
– absolute surrender;
– complete yielding;
– full submission;
– entirely devoted;
– humble obedience.

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2. Evening Prayer for today.

i. Evening Prayer

A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain. ⏤ Psalm 127:1

As is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray. ⏤ Martin Luther

Our Father, before we lay down to sleep, we thank You for protecting and providing for us, and for all the blessings of this day. We committed ourselves to Your care this morning, and You haven’t forgotten us for even a moment. We thank You for the happiness we’ve shared at home today. Father, bless our family life and make it more tender and supportive. May our home become a holier place to live and grow. May all its influences be pure, uplifting, and enriching. Fill it with Your Holy Spirit, and then it will be like Heaven.

O Son of God, who lived in an earthly home in Nazareth for many years and often visited the home in Bethany, come and dwell in our home, and bless it with Your tender grace. May we sit at Your feet like Mary did, listening to Your word and learning from You. Then, in times of sorrow, You will come to comfort us. We also want to pour out our love to You like the woman who anointed Your feet with perfume. Come, dear Master, and be our constant guest. Stay with us all the time. Help us to make our home a place where You’ll want to dwell—a home of truth, pure feelings, gentle words, and thoughtful affection.

Now, as this day ends and we prepare for rest, we entrust our whole home to Your care. Forgive us all our sins. Accept the work we bring to You—only small pieces of what we intended to do, and stained by sin. Take it as it is and let Your blessing rest on it. Keep us through the night, and prepare us for tomorrow, whether we spend it on earth or in Heaven. We ask all this in Your name, O Lamb of God. Amen.

https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/11/evening

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Daily devotion for April 16th
Repentance
Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? The man said, The woman you put here with me — she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it. Then the LORD God said to the woman, What is this you have done?

Genesis 3:11b-13
There is something very interesting here. God asks essentially the same question to both the man and the woman. He is saying to each, Tell me, what is it that you did? Specifically, definitely, clearly what is it that you did? But there is an exquisite touch of delicacy and grace here that we ought not to miss. He does not put the question in the same form to Adam and Eve. To the man, He is forthright and blunt: Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? But to the woman He puts the question much more softly and gently.

It is comforting to me to realize how fully God understands women, so that He puts the question to her very gently. He says, Tell me in your own way, now, what is this that you have done? It is significant that in their answers, both Adam and Eve come out at the same place. Each blames someone else (we call this human nature, as it is such a widespread, universal response), but when they come to their final statement, they both use exactly the same words: and I ate.

That is where God wants to bring them. That is what the Bible calls repentance. It is a candid statement of the facts with no attempt now to evade them, color them, or clothe them in any other form. It is a simple, factual statement to which they are both reduced: and I ate.

Notice how these questions have followed a designed course. God has made them first admit, We're not where we ought to be—we know that. We ought not to be hidden in the garden. We ought not to be lost. We ought not to require a question like this: Where are you? God has made them see that something has happened within them. They have seen that they are where they are because of what they are, and all of this has happened because they disobeyed, because they ate the forbidden food, they sinned. God has led them graciously, and yet unerringly, to the place where each of them, in their own way, has said, Yes, Lord, I sinned; I ate.

That is as far as people can ever go in correcting evil. They can do no more than that. But that immediately provides the ground for God to act. This is where He constantly seeks to bring us, because it provides Him with the only ground upon which He can act. You can see this throughout the whole Bible, in the Old and New Testament alike. When God is dealing with people, He seeks to bring them to the place where they acknowledge what is wrong.

This is what God wants to do with us. He finds us in our failure, our estrangement, our guilt, our sense of nakedness and loss, and immediately He moves to bring us to repentance. We misunderstand His moving. We think He is dragging us before some tribunal in order to chastise us or punish us, but He is not. He is simply trying to get us to face the facts as they are. That is what He does here with Adam and Eve.

Thank you, Lord, for the way in which You bring me to this place of repentance. Help me not to hide, but to bring my sin to light that I might experience your grace and mercy.

DAILY BIBLE LESSON.
MISUNDERSTOOD VERSES USED AGAINST THE HEALTH MESSAGE.

Please, share this study with your family, friends co-workers, and all who you can, for the expansion of the Kingdom of GOD.

There are a number of Bible verses that many Christians use to "support" their meat eating (including Biblical "unclean" meat), and which they use against the health message. Let's examine the verses in question.

1. Matthew 15:11 ...'Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.'

If we simply take the whole chapter in context, it can be easily seen that what Jesus is talking about is the Pharisees rules on eating with unwashed hands. And although Jesus is not saying that eating with dirty hands is ok. He is merely pointing out that the Pharisees placed more importance on these ritual rules than they did on love. So Jesus is teaching a "heart" issue, in that what comes from the heart is that which really makes a person "evil", not what goes into the stomach.

2. Acts 10:10-13 ...'And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.'

This is such a well known misunderstood piece of scripture that many Christians use to "validate" their eating of unclean animals. And yet the meaning of the vision is clearly given within the context. Now let's say that the vision DID mean we can now eat anything. Shall we now start eating dogs, cats, rats, horses and such like? Do Christians eat such things? Of course not. And yet they use this verse to support their eating of pigs and other Biblically unclean flesh. Peter even said himself after the vision ... 'Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.' ... He was shocked and troubled by this vision. Why? Because he couldn't believe that God would now pronounce all unclean animals and insects as ok to eat.

So what does this vision REALLY mean? ... Acts 10:28,34,35 ...'And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any MAN common or unclean ... Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.'

Through this vision, God was basically showing Peter that ALL PEOPLE who fear God and do His will are accepted ("clean"). So why did God use a vision to do with eating? Maybe because as verse 10 says, Peter was very hungry before he had the vision. Also in the vision, God spoke THREE times, saying that what He had cleansed, Peter should not call common. Why THREE times? Because THREE NON-JEWS then came to see Peter to take him to Cornelius.

3. 1 Timothy 4:4 ...'For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.'

Again, if we read in context, we can see that in verses 1-3 it says ... 'in the latter times some shall depart from the faith ... Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron ... Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats.' ... Some say that this is speaking about the Adventist church. But note, Paul is saying that these "individuals" teaching to abstain from meats also teach not to marry. The Adventist church does not forbid marriage, but rather promotes marriage between a man and woman. On the other hand, the Roman Catholic church does forbid eating foods on certain holiday celebrations and forbids marriage through it's institutions of the nuns and priests.

Please also notice this important point ... The word "meats" in verse 3 simply means FOOD. When the Bible is talking about animal meat, it says "flesh". But when talking about non-flesh food, it uses the word "meat". For example, in Genesis 1:29 God tells Adam and Eve what He has created for them to eat ... 'every herb bearing seed and the fruit of the tree yielding seed'. And what does God call this food in Genesis 1:29? MEAT. So going back to verse 3 of Timothy above, what "meat" has God CREATED to be received with thanksgiving? Food of the earth. Because God did NOT create animals to be killed and eaten. That was not His plan.

Also, did you notice that in verse 4 it says 'every CREATURE of God is good.'? The word Creature simply means "thing founded" or "created thing". So if "creature" in this verse means anything other than natural products of the earth which God created for us to eat, then people will HAVE to include every crawling thing upon the face of the earth .. INCLUDING HUMANS! So, is it ok to eat rats, spiders, dogs, cats, and people? Is cannibalism now approved? After all, Mark 16:15 says ... 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.'

The only logical conclusion is that Paul is talking about those who would forbid the eating of foods that God originally created for our diet.

1 Timothy 4:5...'For it is sanctified by the word of God AND prayer.'

How is food sanctified (made holy for us to eat)? NOT just by prayer which many Christians seem to believe. But rather by the Word of God AND prayer. Now, where in the Bible is unclean meat like pig, camel, mice, bats, eagle sanctified? Where?!

4. Romans 14:2-3 ...'For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.'

Now let's look at what Paul said in chapter 12:1 ...'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.' ... Do you really think that Paul would plead with us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and then turn around and suggest that eating anything, even those things that HARM our bodies is ok? I don't think so. Again, if Paul IS suggesting that eating all things is ok, then you must include ALL THINGS, dogs, cats, rats, horses, etc. Would this be acceptable to God? No way! So what is Paul saying above in chapter 14?

The context of the point Paul is putting across is to do with "those who are weak in the faith". That is, one who has but a limited grasp of the principles of righteousness. He is eager to be saved and is willing to do whatever he believes is required of him. But in the immaturity of his Christian experience and probably also as the result of former education and belief, he attempts to make his salvation more certain by the observance of certain rules and regulations (ceremonial laws) that are in reality not binding upon him. To him these regulations assume great importance. He regards them as absolutely binding upon him for salvation, and he is distressed and confused when he sees other Christians about him, especially those who seem to be more experienced, who do not share his assumptions.

In Corinthians the problem is identified in the practice of eating foods sacrificed to idols. According to the ancient practice, pagan priests carried on an extensive merchandise of the animal sacrifices offered to idols. Paul told the Corinthian believers, which were converts from both Judaism and Paganism that inasmuch as an idol was nothing, there was no wrong, so to speak, in eating foods dedicated to it. However, he explains, because there were some who were beginners in the faith and still fairly weak, and could not with a free conscience eat such foods, Paul urged those who were stronger in the faith not to place a stumbling block in a brother's way by indulging in those foods. And Probably for fear of offending in this matter some Christians abstained from flesh foods (Biblically clean meat) entirely, which means that their food was restricted to "herbs", that is, vegetables.

So what is meant by "all things"? All things that are sanctified (pronounced clean, as per Levitical laws) by the Word of God. Does the Word of God pronounce dogs, cats, pigs and wild beasts as clean to eat? No.

If people would only take the WHOLE of God's Word in context, they would see the clear truth of the matter. God is trying to draw men back to the original plan in the Garden of Eden. And He wants a people in the last days who are living according to that original plan. This is the message of the three angels of Revelation 14. A message of turning away from the world and Babylon's deceptions, and returning back to God. The messages point us to our Creator. And how were we made? We were made in the image of God. So should we act and live in the image of God. This is the health message. Please bring glory to God in all you do.

To learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741

Pastor; Greg Hudson

Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.

Daily devotion for April 15th
Where Are You?
But the Lord God called to the man, Where are you?

Genesis 3:9
It is most striking to me that all religions, apart from Christianity, begin on the note of man's seeking after God. Only the Bible starts with the view of God's seeking after man. That highlights an essential difference between our Christian faith and the other major religions of the world. Furthermore, this first question here in the Old Testament is matched by the first question asked in the New Testament. Here it is God asking man, Where are you? and in the New Testament, in Matthew, the first question that appears is that of certain wise men who come asking, Where is he? (cf. Matthew 2:2).

If we take this account in the garden literally (as I believe we must), then it is clear that God habitually appeared to Adam in some visible form, for now Adam and Eve in their guilt and awareness of nakedness hide from God when they hear the sound of His footsteps in the garden. This indicates a customary action on God's part. He came in the cool of the day, not because that was more pleasant for Him but because it was more pleasant for man, and He habitually held some form of communication with man. We know from the rest of Scripture that whenever God appears visibly in some manifestation, it is always the second person of the Godhead, the Son. If that is true, then we have here what is called a theophany, a visible manifestation of God before the incarnation. Thus, the one here who asks of Adam and Eve, Where are you? is the same one of whom later men would ask, Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? (Matthew 2:2).

Notice the importance of this question, Where are you? When people are lost, this is the most important question they can ask: Where am I? Suppose the telephone rang and you answered it to hear a voice say, I'd like to come to your church this morning. I thought I knew the way, but I find myself very confused. Can you help me? What is the first question you would ask? Where are you? That is always first. Where are you?

Today we are seeking to find a way out of a very confusing situation that prevails in our world. We will never do it until we start with this question, Where are you? Where am I? Perhaps the reason many are unable to be helped today is either because they cannot or will not answer that question. Ask it of yourself now. Where are you? In the course of your life, from birth to death, moving as you hope you are moving, to develop stability of character, trustworthiness, integrity of being, all these qualities that we admire in others and want in ourselves--where are you? How far have you come? Until you can answer that, in some sense at least, there is no possibility of helping you.

Perhaps many of you will have to say, I don't know where I am. I only know that I am not where I ought to be or where I want to be. That's all I can say. If that is all you can say, that is at least an honest answer, and therefore, it is the most helpful answer you can give. In that sense, it is the only right answer.

Lord, help me to examine myself with this question, Where am I? Thank You that it is out of Your grace and love that You question me

THE SABBATH TRUTH # 14.
100 Amazing Facts About The Sabbath and Sunday

WHY keep the Sabbath day? What is the object of the Sabbath? Who made it? When was it made, and for whom? Which day is the true Sabbath? Many keep the first day of the week, or Sunday. What Bible authority have they for this? Some keep the seventh day, or Saturday. What Scripture have they for that? Here are the facts about both days, as plainly stated in the Word of God:

After working the first six days of the week in creating this earth, the great God rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 2:1.3.)

This stamped that day as God's rest day, or Sabbath day, as Sabbath day means rest day. To illustrate: When a person is born on a certain day, that day thus becomes his birthday. So when God rested upon the seventh day, that day became His rest, or Sabbath, day.

Therefore the seventh day must always be God's Sabbath day. Can you change your birthday from the day on which you were born to one on which you were not born? No. Neither can you change God's rest day to a day on which He did not rest. Hence the seventh day is still God's Sabbath day.

The Creator blessed the seventh day. (Genesis 2:3.)

He sanctified the seventh day. (Exodus 20:11.)

He made it the Sabbath day in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:1-3.)

It was made before the fall; hence it is not a type; for types were not introduced till after the fall.

Jesus says it was made for man (Mark 2:27), that is, for the race, as the word man is here unlimited; hence, for the Gentile as well as for the Jew.

It is a memorial of creation. (Exodus 20:11; 31:17.) Every time we rest upon the seventh day, as God did at creation, we commemorate that grand event.

It was given to Adam, the head of the human race. (Mark 2:27; Genesis 2:1-3.)

Hence through him, as our representative, to all nations. (Acts 17:26.)

It is' not a Jewish institution, for it was made 2,300 years before ever there was a Jew.

The Bible never calls it the Jewish Sabbath, but always "the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Men should be cautious how they stigmatize God's holy rest day.

Evident reference is made to the Sabbath and the seven-day week all, through the patriarchal age. (Genesis 2:l-3; 8:10,12; 29:27,28.etc.)

It was a part of God's law before Sinai. (Exodus 16:4, 27-29.)

Then God placed it in the heart of His moral law. (Exodus 20:1-17.) Why did He place it there if it was not like the other nine precepts, which all admit to be immutable?

The seventh-day Sabbath was commanded by the voice of the living God. (Deuteronomy 4:12,13.)

Then He wrote the commandment with His own finger. (Exodus 31:18.)

He engraved it in the enduring stone, indicating its imperishable nature. (Deuteronomy 5:22.)

It was sacredly preserved in the ark in the holy of holies. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5.)

God forbade work upon the Sabbath, even in the most hurrying times. (Exodus 34:21.)

God destroyed the Israelites in the wilderness because they profaned the Sabbath. (Ezekiel 20:12, 13.)

It is the sign of the true God, by which we are to know Him from false gods. (Ezekiel 20:20.)

God promised that Jerusalem should stand forever if the Jews would keep the Sabbath (Jeremiah 17:24, 25.)

He sent them into the Babylonish captivity for breaking it. (Nehemiah 13:18.)

He destroyed Jerusalem for its violation. (Jeremiah 17:27.)

God has pronounced a special blessing on all the Gentiles who will keep it. (Isaiah 56:6, 7.)

This is in the prophecy, which refers wholly to the Christian dispensation. (See Isaiah 56.)

God has promised to bless all who keep the Sabbath. (Isaiah 56:2.)

The Lord requires us to call it "honourable". (Isaiah 58:13.) Beware, ye who take delight in calling it the. “old Jewish Sabbath,” “a yoke of bondage,” etc.

After the holy Sabbath has been trodden down "many generations,” it is to be restored in the last days. (Isaiah 58:12,13.)

All the holy prophets kept the seventh day.

When the Son of God came, He kept the seventh day all His life. (Luke 4:16; John 15:10.) Thus He followed His Father's example at creation. Shall we not be safe in following the example of both the Father and the Son?

The seventh day is the Lord's Day. (See Revelation 1:10; Mark 2:28; Isaiah 58:13; Exodus 20:10.)

Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28), that is, to love and protect it, as the husband is the lord of the wife, to love and cherish her (1 Peter 3:6.)

He vindicated the Sabbath as a merciful institution designed for man's good. (Mark 2:23-28.)

Instead of abolishing the Sabbath, He carefully taught how it should be observed. (Matthew 12:1-13.)

He taught His disciples that they should do nothing upon the Sabbath day but what was “lawful” (Matthew 12:12.)

He instructed His apostles that the Sabbath should be prayerfully regarded forty years after His resurrection. (Matthew 24:20.)

The pious women who had been with Jesus carefully kept the seventh day after His death. (Luke 23:56.)

Thirty years after Christ's resurrection, the Holy Spirit' expressly calls it "the Sabbath day,"(Acts 13:14.)

Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, called it the "Sabbath day" in A.D. 45. (Acts 13:27.) Did not Paul know? Or shall we believe modern teachers, who affirm that it ceased to be the Sabbath at the resurrection of Christ?

Luke, the inspired Christian historian, writing as late as A.D. 62, calls it the "Sabbath day." (Acts 13:44.)

The Gentile converts called it the Sabbath. (Acts 13:42.)

In the great Christian council, A.D. 49, in the presence of the apostles and thousands of disciples, James calls it the "sabbath day." (Acts 15:21)

It was customary to hold prayer meetings upon that day. (Acts 16:13.)

Paul read the Scriptures in public meetings on that day. (Acts 17:2, 3.)

It was his custom to preach upon that day. (Acts 17:2,3.)

The Book of Acts alone gives a record of his holding eighty-four meetings upon that day. (See Acts 13:14, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4. 11.)

There was never any dispute between the Christians and the Jews about the Sabbath day. This is proof that the Christians still observed the same day that the Jews did.

In all their accusations against Paul, they never charged him with disregarding the Sabbath day. Why did they not, if he did not keep it?

But Paul himself expressly declared that he had kept the law. “Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all." Acts 25:8. How could this be true if he had not kept the Sabbath?

The Sabbath is mentioned in the New Testament fifty-nine times, and always with respect, bearing the same title it had in the Old Testament, “the Sabbath day.”

Not a word is said anywhere in the New Testament about the Sabbath's being abolished, done away, changed, or anything of the kind.

God has never given permission to any man to work upon it. Reader, by what authority do you use - the seventh day for common labor?

No Christian of the New Testament, either before or after the resurrection, ever did ordinary work upon the seventh day. Find one case of that kind, and we will yield the question. Why should modem Christians do differently from Bible Christians?

There is no record that God has ever removed His blessing or sanctification from the seventh day.

As the Sabbath was kept in Eden before the fall, so it will be observed eternally in the new earth after the restitution. (Isaiah 66:22, 23.)

The seventh-day Sabbath was an important part of the law of God, as it came from His own mouth, and was written by His own finger upon stone at Sinai. (See Exodus 20.) When Jesus began His work, He expressly declared that He had not come to destroy the law. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets.” Matthew 5:17

Jesus severely condemned the Pharisees as hypocrites for pretending to love God, while at the same time they made void one of the Ten Commandments by their tradition. The keeping of Sunday is only a tradition of men.

40 Bible Facts Concerning the First Day of the Week

The very first thing recorded In the Bible is work done on Sunday, the first day of the week. (Genesis l: l-5.) The Creator Himself did this. If God made the earth on Sunday, can it be wicked for us to work on Sunday?

God commands men to work upon the first day of the week. (Exodus 20.8-11.) Is it wrong to obey God?

None of the patriarchs ever kept it.

None of the holy prophets ever kept it.

By the express command of-God, His holy people used the first day of the week as a common working day for 4,000 years, at least.

God Himself calls it a "working" day. (Ezekiel 46:1.)

God did not rest upon it.

He never blessed it.

Christ did not rest upon it.

Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3), and worked at His trade until He was thirty years old. He kept the Sabbath and worked six days in the week, as all admit. Hence He did many a hard day’s work on Sunday.

The apostles worked upon it during the same time.

The apostles never rested upon it.

Christ never blessed it.

It has never been blessed by any divine authority.

It has never been sanctified.

No law was ever given to enforce the keeping of it, hence it is no transgression to work upon it. “Where no law is, there is no transgression.” Romans 4:15 (See also 1 John 3:4.)

The New Testament nowhere forbids work to be done on it.

No penalty is provided for its violation.

No blessing is promised for its observance.

No regulation is given as to how it ought to be observed. Would this be so if the Lord wished us to keep it?

It is never called the Christian Sabbath.

It is never called the Sabbath day at all.

It is never called the Lord’s day.

It is never called even a rest day.

No sacred title whatever is applied to it. Then why should we call it holy?

It is simply called “first day of the week.”

Jesus never-mentioned it in any way, never took its name upon His lips, so far as the record shows.

The word Sunday never occurs in the Bible at all.

Neither God, Christ, nor inspired men ever said one word in favor of Sunday as a holy day.

The first day of the week is mentioned only eight times in all the New Testament. (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2,9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2.)

Six of these texts refer to the same first day of the week.

Paul directed the saints to look over their secular affairs on that day. (1Corinthians 16:2.)

In all the New Testament we have a record of only one religious meeting held upon that day, and even this was a night meeting. (Acts 20:5-12.)

There is not intimation that they ever held a meeting upon it before or after that.

It was not their custom to meet on that day.

There was no requirement to break bread on that day.

We have an account of only one instance in which it was done. (Acts 20:7.)

That was done in the night-after midnight. (Verses 7-11.) Jesus celebrated it on Thursday evening (Luke 22), and the disciples sometimes did it every day (Acts 2:42-46.)

The Bible nowhere says that the first day of the week commemorates the resurrection of Christ. This is a tradition of men, which contradicts the law of God. (Matthew 15:1-9.) Baptism commemorates the burial and resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 6:3-5.)

Finally, the New Testament is totally silent with regard to any change of the Sabbath day or any sacredness for the first day.

Here are one hundred plain Bible facts upon this question, showing conclusively that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord in both the Old and New Testament.*

*Reprinted from a tract published by the Review and Herald Publishing Association about the year 1885.

A NUGGET OF TRUTH.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WATCH?

Revelation 16:15 ...'Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.'

But what does it mean to "watch and keep our garments"? Does it mean to watch the news? Not really. Sure, it is good to know what is going on so that we can see the signs, but this isn't the watching that Jesus is pointing to. Take a look at what Jesus said to the disciples and what Paul said:

Mark 13:37 ...'And what I say unto you I say unto all, watch.'

Matthew 26:40-41 ...'And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, what, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.'

1 Corinthians 16:13 ...'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.'

1 Thessalonians 5:6 ...'Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.'

Do you see what it means to be "watching"? What was the result of the disciples not watching with Jesus? They FLED when persecution came! This flesh is weak and so we need to be constantly connected with Jesus each and every day, even every hour, so as to not fall into temptation and sin. This is the watching we must do. It is a watching that we are not led astray by the world or this flesh. A watching that we are surrendering our all to Christ, praying always and standing strong in THE faith of Jesus Christ, keeping the commandments of God (Revelation 14:12). Much of the world and the various churches are "sleeping" and will be found "wanting" when Jesus returns. So let us make sure we are watching unto prayer, so Jesus doesn't come and find us asleep. So what about the "garment" that we are to have on?

Isaiah 61:10 ...'I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.'

Oh what a beautiful garment this is! The robe of Christ's righteousness, the clothing which Adam and Eve lost due to sin, and which Christ will FREELY GIVE to all who surrender their lives and their own will to Him. This is the clothing we MUST be found wearing when Jesus returns. This is the garment which the "king" (God the Father) was making sure the "guests" had on when He inspected them (investigative judgment) in the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22. Sadly, the man who thought he had a right to be at the wedding, but without the garment, was cast out, and Oh how many are without the proper garment! We must make it a priority to make sure we are clothed with the righteous garment of Christ. So let us heed the warning of Christ in Revelation 16:15, as the time is at hand!

John 17:3 ...'And this is life eternal, that they might KNOW thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.'

A NUGGET OF TRUTH.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WATCH?

Revelation 16:15 ...'Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.'

But what does it mean to "watch and keep our garments"? Does it mean to watch the news? Not really. Sure, it is good to know what is going on so that we can see the signs, but this isn't the watching that Jesus is pointing to. Take a look at what Jesus said to the disciples and what Paul said:

Mark 13:37 ...'And what I say unto you I say unto all, watch.'

Matthew 26:40-41 ...'And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, what, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.'

1 Corinthians 16:13 ...'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.'

1 Thessalonians 5:6 ...'Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.'

Do you see what it means to be "watching"? What was the result of the disciples not watching with Jesus? They FLED when persecution came! This flesh is weak and so we need to be constantly connected with Jesus each and every day, even every hour, so as to not fall into temptation and sin. This is the watching we must do. It is a watching that we are not led astray by the world or this flesh. A watching that we are surrendering our all to Christ, praying always and standing strong in THE faith of Jesus Christ, keeping the commandments of God (Revelation 14:12). Much of the world and the various churches are "sleeping" and will be found "wanting" when Jesus returns. So let us make sure we are watching unto prayer, so Jesus doesn't come and find us asleep. So what about the "garment" that we are to have on?

Isaiah 61:10 ...'I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.'

Oh what a beautiful garment this is! The robe of Christ's righteousness, the clothing which Adam and Eve lost due to sin, and which Christ will FREELY GIVE to all who surrender their lives and their own will to Him. This is the clothing we MUST be found wearing when Jesus returns. This is the garment which the "king" (God the Father) was making sure the "guests" had on when He inspected them (investigative judgment) in the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22. Sadly, the man who thought he had a right to be at the wedding, but without the garment, was cast out, and Oh how many are without the proper garment! We must make it a priority to make sure we are clothed with the righteous garment of Christ. So let us heed the warning of Christ in Revelation 16:15, as the time is at hand!

John 17:3 ...'And this is life eternal, that they might KNOW thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.'

STORACALS OF PROPHECY # 14
Hello friends, family, and my brothers, and sisters in Christ.

This is Brother Johnny Gass.

Welcome to Bible study.

Study to show thyself to approved unto God, a Workman unashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Please share these lessons with everyone you know for the expansion of the kingdom of God.7

The Mark of Cain.

Adam and Eve's first two sons differed vastly in their personalities and behavior. Cain longed to farm and build, while Abel loved to roam the hills and meadows with his flocks. After sin entered this new world because of Adam and Eve's disobedience, God established a sacrificial system and explained that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for sin (Hebrews 9:22). He told them that these sacrifices pointed forward to the time when Jesus would become a man and die as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. Abel faithfully brought a young lamb as a sacrifice for his sins, but Cain thought it was unnecessary to obey God's command so precisely. He considered the sacrificial system to be messy and reasoned that as long as he brought an offering and worshiped God, the details wouldn't matter. So he brought an offering of his own works, some produce from the field. Cain watched with jealous anger as fire came down from heaven and consumed Abel's sacrifice but left his own offering untouched. The Lord lovingly urged Cain to humble himself and obey, but Cain stubbornly persisted in his rebellion. Abel also tried to gently reason with his older brother, but Cain flew into a rage. By the time he regained his senses, Abel's bloody body lay still at his feet. God pronounced a curse upon Cain, and when Cain complained about his sentence, the Lord placed a mark upon him lest future generations take revenge for this first homicide. The book of Revelation tells us that, in the last days, there will again be a battle between Christians regarding how and when to worship. Soon everyone will be identified either by the seal of God or the mark of the beast.

1. Who will be protected through the seven last plagues?

Revelation 7:3. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have _________ the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Those who receive God's seal in their foreheads will be protected during the plagues (Psalms 91:7-11).

2. What is this "seal" the righteous have in their foreheads?

Isaiah 8:16. Bind up the testimony; seal the ____ among my disciples.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God's seal is found in His law. A seal is what makes a document official, and it normally contains three characteristics: Name, Office, and Territory. An example would be "Cyrus king of Persia" in Ezra 1:1.

3. Which of the Ten Commandments contains all the elements of a seal?

Exodus 20:11. For in six days the ______ ______ heaven and earth, the sea, and ___ that in them is. (three word answer)

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: The fourth commandment is the only one that contains all three elements of a seal: (1) "The Lord"--His name, (2) "made"--His office as Creator, (3) "heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is"--His territory.

4. What has God given as a special sign of His power?

Ezekiel 20:12. I gave them my ________, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.

Ezekiel 20:20 Hallow my __________; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.

Exodus 31:13 Verily my __________ 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.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God clearly states that He gave the Sabbath as a sign of His power to create and sanctify. It is His seal, or mark of authority. The words "seal," "sign," "mark," and "token" are used interchangeably throughout the Bible (compare Genesis 17:11 with Romans 4:11 and Revelation 7:3 with Ezekiel 9:4).

5. What does the second beast of Revelation 13 force all to receive?

Revelation 13:16. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a _____ in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Answer : ____________________

6. What is the mark of the beast?

Acts 5:29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to _____ God rather than _____. (two word answer)

Choosing to obey the laws of the papacy (Sunday) rather than the laws of God (Sabbath) will leave you with the mark of beast.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

What is sin?

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

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: We identified the first beast of Revelation 13 in Lesson 13. What is its mark of power and authority? The best way to discover its mark of authority is to ask the papacy directly. Notice the following section from a Catholic catechism:

"Q. Which is the Sabbath day?

"A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.

"Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?

"A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."1

Here is another statement from a catechism:

"Q. Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept?

"A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her--she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority."2

So the papacy is saying that its mark of power and authority is making Sunday a holy day--a change that virtually the entire Christian world accepts. (See supplement entitled "What Important Question Does the Papacy Ask Protestants?")

1Peter Geiermann, The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co., 1957 edition), p 50.

2Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism (New York: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, third American edition, revised, n.d.), p. 174.

7. Is either the mark of the beast or the seal of God visible?

Hebrews 10:16. Saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their ______ will I write them.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.

Exodus 13:9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth.

Isaiah 59:6, 7 Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. ... Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Neither the mark of the beast nor the seal of God is outwardly visible. The forehead represents the mind, and the hand is a symbol of work. "On the hand" and "between the eyes" are consistent symbols in Scripture for a person's thoughts and actions (Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:18).

A person will receive the mark of the beast in his forehead by choosing to believe that Sunday is a holy day in spite of Bible truth. A person will be marked in the right hand by working on God's Sabbath or by outwardly keeping Sunday laws for convenient reasons--such as a job, family, etc. Although the sign is invisible to men, God will know who has which mark (2 Timothy 2:19). In a sense, each person will mark himself. If I respect and regard God's holy Sabbath, He will mark me as His own. If I regard the beast's false Sabbath, He will mark me as belonging to the beast.

8. How does Jesus determine if we are His servants?

Romans 6:16. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to __________, his servants ye are to whom ye _____.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Answer : ____________________

9. Does anyone have the mark of the beast now?

Revelation 13:17. No man might ____ or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: No person has the mark now. When it becomes a forced issue, only those who have received the mark of the beast will be able to buy or sell. At that time, people who keep God's holy Sabbath will do so at the risk of their lives (Revelation 13:15), and those who choose to profane His holy day and officially cast their votes by placing the laws of men above the Law of God will be marked as belonging to Antichrist. All who are loyal to Jesus and His holy day will receive Jesus' glorious seal, thus making them His forever. Those who try to remain neutral will be counted for Antichrist (Matthew 12:30).

10. What two things does the Antichrist power attempt to change?

Daniel 7:25. He shall ... think to change times and _____.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Daniel 7 reveals an Old Testament description of the Antichrist power. It clearly predicts that the beast would attempt to change both God's laws and times. The papacy has tried to change God's laws by: (1) omitting the second commandment against veneration of images, (2) shortening the fourth commandment from 94 words to just eight in order to avoid mentioning which day is the Sabbath, and (3) dividing the tenth commandment into two commandments. The papacy attempted to change God's times by: (1) teaching people to recognize the first day of the week as the Sabbath instead of the seventh day, and (2) adopting the pagan Roman practice of beginning each day at midnight instead of sundown. God's timing for the Sabbath is from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night (Leviticus 23:32). No mortal should ever dare to tamper with God's sacred law or times (Matthew 5:18).

11. What was God's criticism of His ancient priests, or pastors?

Malachi 2:8, 9. Ye have caused many to stumble at the law. ... Ye have not kept my ways, but have been _______ in the law.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God is still hurt when His pastors are partial to eight or nine commandments and cause many to stumble over His command to keep the Sabbath holy. Virtually all churches admit in their official writings that there is no Scripture support for Sunday sacredness. Tragically, both Protestantism and Catholicism stand guilty before the judgment bar of God for throwing out the Bible Sabbath! God Himself gave the Sabbath as a sign, or mark, of His power to create and His power to sanctify and save (Exodus 31:17; Ezekiel 20:12). Dare any man tamper with this sacred sign, which represents the great God of heaven and all that He stands for?

12. How did God's ancient leaders regard the great things of His law?

Hosea 8:12. I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a _______ thing.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Times have not changed. God has placed the Sabbath, His great sign, in the middle of His law and begins that commandment with the word "remember." Yet many people today feel that keeping His seventh-day Sabbath is a strange thing.

13. What specific, solemn rebuke did God give to religious leaders regarding His holy Sabbath?

Ezekiel 22:8. Thou hast ______ mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.

Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane ... and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God pointedly rebukes religious leaders who say that the Sabbath doesn't matter and who claim "Thus saith the Lord" when it is not true.

14. What specific sin does God command His leaders to denounce?

Isaiah 58:1, 13, 14. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and ______ my people their transgression. ... If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honourable; ... Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: God charges spiritual leaders to call Sabbath-breaking a sin and to insist that His people keep His Sabbath day holy. As with the disciples of old, our only safety is in obeying God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

15. When you decide to accept Jesus and fully follow Him, what happens?

Matthew 11:29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find _____ unto your souls.

Answer : ____________________

NOTE: Glorious rest and peace enter your heart at conversion. The Sabbath, which means "rest," is a symbol of the rest and peace that comes from the new birth (Hebrews 4:1-10). Those who are truly born again will keep the Sabbath as a blessed sign of that rest (notice verses 4, 9, 10). There is no joy like the joy that comes to a converted person who keeps God's Sabbath holy.

16. Before you can say "no" to the mark of the beast, you must say "yes" to the seal of God. Jesus is waiting at the door of your heart for an answer. Will you decide now to move under His glorious Sabbath banner as evidence that you have accepted Him as your Creator and Saviour?

Answer : ____________________

Supplemental Study

What Important Question Does the Papacy Ask Protestants?

Protestants have repeatedly asked the papacy, "How could you dare to change God's law?" But the question posed to Protestants by the Catholic church is even more penetrating.

Here it is officially: "You will tell me that Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath, but that the Christian Sabbath has been changed to Sunday. Changed! but by whom? Who has authority to change an express commandment of Almighty God? When God has spoken and said, Thou shalt keep holy the seventh day, who shall dare to say, Nay, thou mayest work and do all manner of worldly business on the seventh day but thou shalt keep holy the first day in its stead?

This is a most important question, which I know not how you can answer. You are a Protestant, and you profess to go by the Bible and the Bible only and yet in so important a matter as the observance of one day in seven as a holy day, you go against the plain letter of the Bible, and put another day in the place of that day which the Bible has commanded. The command to keep holy the seventh day is one of the ten commandments you believe that the other nine are still binding who gave you authority to tamper with the fourth? If you are consistent with your own principles, if you really follow the Bible and the Bible only, you ought to be able to produce some portion of the New Testament in which this fourth commandment is expressly altered."1

1Library of Christian Doctrine: Why Don't You Keep Holy the Sabbath-Day? (London: Burns and Oates, Ltd.), pp. 3, 4.

To learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741

Pastor; Greg Hudson

Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.

#DAILY_BREAD | #DAILY_BREAD
#LA_LOI Ep.2

Bonjour bien-aimés.
Notre méditation d’aujourd’hui va se porter sur le #BUT_DE_LA_LOI.

A travers cette meditation nous voulons comprendre le but de la Loi telle qu’elle a été donnée dans la Bible. Beaucoup pensent que la Loi a été donnée pour sauver les hommes. Mais la Bible enseigne que la Loi n’a pas été donnée pour sauver, mais pour révéler le péché.

> Romains 3:20 « Car nul ne sera justifié devant lui par les œuvres de la loi, puisque c’est par la loi que vient la connaissance du péché. »

Depuis le premier homme, Adam, l’humanité a vécu dans le péché. Cependant, pendant une longue période, le péché existait sans que la Loi ne soit encore donnée.

> Romains 5:13 « Car jusqu'à la loi le péché était dans le monde. Or, le péché n'est pas imputé quand il n'y a point de loi. »

Lorsque Dieu a donné la Loi par Moïse, cela a permis de mettre en évidence le péché et de montrer clairement la justice de Dieu.

La Loi a donc été donnée pour que l’homme reconnaisse son incapacité à se sauver par ses propres efforts.Beaucoup de personnes essaient d’être sauvées par leurs bonnes œuvres, leur moralité ou leur religion. Mais la Loi démontre que personne ne peut être justifié par ses œuvres.

> Galates 2:16 « Néanmoins, sachant que ce n'est pas par les œuvres de la loi que l'homme est justifié, mais par la foi en Jésus-Christ, nous aussi nous avons cru en Jésus-Christ, afin d'être justifiés par la foi en Christ et non par les œuvres de la loi, parce que nulle chair ne sera justifiée par les œuvres de la loi. »

La Bible explique que la Loi agit comme un pédagogue ou un guide, qui conduit les hommes vers Jésus-Christ. Elle montre à l’homme qu’il est pécheur et qu’il a besoin d’un Sauveur.

> Galates 3:24 « Ainsi la loi a été comme un pédagogue pour nous conduire à Christ, afin que nous soyons justifiés par la foi. »

Lorsque nous arrivons à l’Évangile, nous voyons que Jésus-Christ est venu apporter la grâce et le salut, que la Loi ne pouvait pas donner. La Loi pouvait montrer le péché, mais elle ne pouvait pas enlever le péché.

La Loi était donc temporaire, donnée jusqu’à la venue de Jésus-Christ. Elle avait pour objectif de préparer les hommes à recevoir le salut par la foi.

La Bible nous rappelle aussi que la Loi elle-même est sainte et révèle la justice de Dieu.

Romains 7:12 « La loi donc est sainte, et le commandement est saint, juste et bon. »

Ainsi, de Moïse jusqu’à la venue de Jésus-Christ, la Loi a joué un rôle important :
• Révéler le péché (Romains 3:20)
• Montrer la justice de Dieu (Romains 7:12)
• Démontrer l’incapacité de l’homme à se sauver lui-même (Galates 2:16)
• Conduire les hommes vers Jésus-Christ (Galates 3:24)

La Loi n’a pas été donnée pour sauver, mais pour conduire les hommes vers Jésus-Christ, qui apporte la grâce et le salut.

Bonne journée et que Dieu vous benisse.
Merci d’Exister.

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