"And the Lord says, “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; ... then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” Isaiah 58:13, 14. To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour. And every object in nature repeats His invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
The Sabbath is one of the most special blessings which God has given to His people. Originating at the time of creation, the Sabbath has been continuously observed since, and will still be observed on the earth made new. God, the creator of all things, rested on the Seventh-day of creation and set it apart as a day of rest to memorialize His work as the creator. Given as a perpetual reminder that the true God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, it is also a sign distinguishing God's true people, an ongoing assurance of God's wonder-working transforming power in our lives, a command to rest from common labor on God's special day of rest, and an invitation to meet with God in a special way during that twenty-four hour period. The Sabbath rightly observed brings blessings that come in no other way.
The Sabbath is sometimes referred to as a "sanctuary in time," reminding that the Sabbath is a unique period of time, whose hours should be carefully guarded from the encroachments of the regular routines of the week.
There are many questions concerning the Sabbath. When did the Sabbath originate? What does the Sabbath memorialize? What makes the Sabbath different from other days? What does it mean to observe the Sabbath? Do we really need to observe the Sabbath on the Seventh-day? Who changed the observance from the Seventh day to the first day of the week? When does Sabbath begin? etc.
There are of course practical questions as well. How do we prepare for the Sabbath? What does it mean to keep the Sabbath on a practical basis? What about necessary travel on the Sabbath?
In this section I provide information and answer questions about the Sabbath. Among the offerings are (1) a wonderful Bible Study that you can use to study on your own or with others, or use to preach a sermon in your church; (2) a Question and Answer dialogue on the Sabbath; (3) some sermons and other resources on the Sabbath (forthcoming); (4) some questions answered on the Sabbath (forthcoming); (5) links to other resources (forthcoming), etc. Some of these resources are still forthcoming, but I believe you will be blessed by what you read. Write if you have questions.
All quotations come from the writings of Mrs. Ellen G. White unless otherwise indicated.—Dan
On this page, you will find a lengthy question-and-answer dialogue on what the Bible teaches about the Seventh-day Sabbath.
On this page you will find information on the history of religious liberty and the Sabbath, and the ongoing need to defend that liberty in our day.
On this page you will find abundant evidence that the Sabbath was kept on the Seventh-day in both Testaments of the Bible.
On this page you will learn about how to prepare for the Seventh-day Sabbath.
On this page you will find an article on keeping the Sabbath.
Find quotes on honoring God in keeping the Sabbath.
On this page you will poetry regarding the Seventh-day Sabbath.
This short, but excellent, sermon from the Signs of the Times shows the need of a keeping the Sabbath in a manner that honors God, and some of the ways in which the Sabbath is broken.
A Plea To Keep The Sabbath (A Letter)
This is a marvelous essay on the Sabbath that you will want to read!
Ellen White wrote a letter to Caroline Clough in which she responded to the many excuses being made for not keeping Sabbath. The information given is highly insightful and shares Mrs. White's way of overcoming objections. Read the letter at this link
Not because we need rest, nor because we need a day for public worship. Read a wonderful excerpt from James White to learn why the Sabbath is on the seventh day.
Much can be learned in these short extracts that provide information on how Ellen White kept the Sabbath in her personal life.
"Speaking our own words" on the Sabbath day is saying whatever comes to our minds. Click on the link to rea more.
Yes. Read more.
“When brought before courts, we are to give up our rights, unless by so doing we are brought in collision with God. We are not pleading for our rights, but for God’s right to our service. Instead of resisting the penalties unjustly imposed upon us, it would be better to take heed to the Saviour’s words, ‘When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another; for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.’” [Matthew 10:23.] {Ms22c-1895.38}
The counsel to "give up our rights," and recognize that "we are not pleading for our rights, but for God's right to our service" in the above quote, comes from a document addressing Sunday "blue laws" and how to respond to them. On this page you will find notes from important documents that address how we should respond to persecution for keeping the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
"All who refuse will be put under oppressive laws. This is the mystery of iniquity, the devising of satanic agencies, carried into effect by the man of sin. {Ms 110, 1904, par. 58} Apostate Protestantism has accepted the false sabbath instituted by the Roman Catholic Church. They have cradled this child of the papacy. Very soon all who refuse to worship this idol will be forbidden to buy or sell. The advisability of enacting such a law is now being discussed. But the people of God will enter into no controversy with the world over this matter. They will simply take God’s Word for their guide and maintain their allegiance to Him whose commandments they keep. They will obey the words of Jehovah recorded in the thirty-first chapter of Exodus, verses twelve to eighteen: {Ms 110, 1904, par. 59}]
This quote, and the one that follows, comes from a manuscript detailing lessons found in the first chapter of Daniel.
"We are to warn men and women against the worship of the beast and his image—against the worship of the idol Sunday. But in doing this work, we need not begin a warfare against unbelievers. We are simply to present the Word of the Lord, in its true dignity and purity, before the minds of those who are ignorant or indifferent regarding its teachings. The Holy Spirit will impress their hearts. We must leave the responsibility with those to whom we carry the message of present truth. We need not tell them that they will go to hell unless they keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. The truth itself, accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit, will convict and convert hearts. We are simply to arouse those in error to a realization of their accountability to God for the light of truth that is shining forth from the pages of God’s Word. Truth, received into the heart, will change the life and mold the character into the divine similitude." {Ms 110, 1904, par. 62}
Unless otherwise stated, quotations come from the writings of Mrs. E. G. White.