Some time ago, Raymond Snyder’s scheme to cash a stolen check at the Riverside National Bank in Riverside, Illinois backfired when the bank teller turned out to be the wife of the man he was impersonating.
As Snyder sat in his car at the drive-through window, the teller, Mrs. Miles F. Humi, looked at the name on the check, looked at Snyder, and then pushed a silent alarm button. Three squad cars arrived and Snyder was arrested. She told the police she “knew he wasn’t my husband.”
Snyder was charged and later found guilty of deceptive practices.
Deceptive practices – This is what the great beast power is involved in.
The Dragon, through Anti-Christ power has pulled off the biggest counterfeiting scheme ever known to man. And most people know nothing about it.
Tonight, we are going to unmask this swindle of swindles by using the Bible.
Let me remind you of a text: Daniel 7: 25 This power would attempt to change the very law of God!
The Great Controversy between Christ & Satan in Revelation centers on God’s authority and His Law. Isn’t it logical that Satan would attack God’s Law? Law – Foundation of God’s Government - Great standard of truth which God wrote with His own finger.
Devil hates law – challenges God . . . sought to change God’s law. Has used the Beast power to think to change it. How could man or anyone think that they can change or trample on the great law of the God of the universe - nothing more arrogant or rebellious.
But this is why Jesus had to come and die! My friends, Jesus upheld the Law with His example of obedience and death for our sins. Jesus went to Calvary to demonstrate the integrity of God’s law.
Notice “intend to change times and laws.”
ONLY one commandment which specifically mentions time – 4th one - Go to Exodus 20 - Here 10 commandments are listed.
First Notice verse 1 – “God spoke all of these words.” No need to be mistaken – important – so God speaks plainly.
Lets look at all of them. Do you believe God is serious – means what He says? Do you think it makes any difference whether or not you take His name in vain?
Notice also “Remember the Sabbath day…” which is specifically stated as the 7th day. Verse 10 – “Seventh day” - Isn’t it interesting that God began only one His commandments with that word “Remember”? Use the word “remember” because afraid forget, right? I think it’s important to study Sabbath also, because the word “remember” also shows that there is some special significance to it.
The Lord knew the Beast power would try to change God’s law – especially the 4th commandment.
But wait a minute, How could the beast change the fourth command which is called Sabbath? Bible will show us clearly – no question about it. First let’s be certain what day of the week we are actually talking about.
Let’s look at the Crucifixion Scene Clearest record found in – Luke 23:54-56 - Continue with chapter 24: 1, 2 Jesus has risen – why empty tomb!
Let’s look at the order of events here – Friday – Preparation - Preparation Day is Friday – Day before the Sabbath - Mark 15:42, 43 - Three Days mentioned in these verses. Preparation, Sabbath, and First Day - Okay now tell me - What day did Jesus die? Good Friday right?
What day was He resurrected? - What day falls in between?
Friday - 6th day; Saturday - 7th day; Sunday - 1st day - calendar shows
See clearly 7th day – Saturday – is the day in the 4th commandment. Verse 56 states it plainly!
Now let’s go back to our original question – How could the Beast change the 4th commandment?
Remember, Papacy came from Pagan Rome – which got religion from Greece – which got from Medo-Persia – which got from Babylon – and Babylon from Devil himself Dragon). This is why the Antichrist Beast is made the of 4 Beasts of Daniel 7 - This is where all ancient systems of false religion began.
Sun worship passed down from Babylon and Papal Rome adopted it from Pagan Rome. Sunday came from Paganism and the Papacy. This was their day of worship – not God’s people.
Did the Papacy change the day of worship? Let them answer – QUOTES
History tells us - Got it when paganism came in with Constantine – 321 AD made edit Constantine – Hero of Roman Catholicism – only half Christian.
Edward T. Hiscox - Author of Baptist Manual – QUOTE
Clear by their own admission that they TRIED to change - But – CAN God’s law be changed? DID God change His law?
Ecclesiastes 3:14 - God’s law - perfect as He is – Doesn’t need to be changed!
Malachi 3:6 - “I am the Lord, and I change not.”
Hebrews 13:8 - “Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday, today and FOREVER."
Now, during these meetings, we’ve had much to say about fundamental truths of salvation. We need to study them clearly – in relation to the issues of Revelation – in order to understand it.
Must not neglect other Biblical doctrines (teachings) as they relate to the great Drama of Revelation and the unfolding of last-day events.
The Bible shows us the importance of faithfulness to sound doctrine by giving us a picture of the early church. Acts 2:42 - Says here that the early church was “steadfast in the apostle’s doctrine.” “Doctrine” is a dirty word in some circles today - But sound doctrine will save us.
1 Timothy 4:13,16 - Doctrine means teaching [ ‘didaskalos’ ]. Must stick with the sound teachings of the Bible. Teachings (doctrines) of Jesus are vital to our happiness and salvation. And Paul also warned - Last days - Turn away from sound doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2-4
Turned away by Beast power and much the current false teaching today.
False teaching abounds – as Christ and Paul predicted.
2 Thessalonians 2:3,4 - “Let no one deceive you – that day [Christ’s 2nd coming] will not come unless the falling away comes first.” A great apostasy from the teachings of the Word of God is connected with the work of the Antichrist.
One doctrine especially distorted – The Sabbath - Spurious counterfeit brought in by Beast power. Why did the Beast bring this counterfeit? Wanted worship. Remember, the Devil gives the Beast his power… Revelation 13:2,4 - “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority “
Revelation 12:9 “…great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world”
Remember what the Devil said - Isaiah 14:13,14 - He wants worship – be like God. And you can mark it down . . .Lord has a day for worship (Sabbath) - Beast has a day for worship.
By the way, what constitutes God’s claim of power and authority to receive worship? What is the basis for Worship? Isaiah 45:11,12,18 - His validity is in His creative power – God’s authority is based in His creative power.
Notice how book of Revelation puts it - Revelation 4:11 - He is worthy because He is the Creator of everything.
Now then – What is the memorial of His creative power? What has He given to us to remind us power and claims of worship? Genesis 2:2,3 - "Blessed it because in that day – rested from all His work – created and made.” Sabbath is a memorial to special creative power.
Let me ask you a ? - Did the Lord need rest? Was He tired? No. He spoke the worlds into existence: Psalm 33:6-9
Gave us a memorial – like Memorial Day – remember those who died for freedoms and liberty we enjoy. Sabbath is Memorial to the One who Created and died for us - to give us freedom from sin and it's condemnation.
If Sabbath kept – no evolutionists or atheists today.
Bible not there to prove God – It simply declares Him as Creator: - Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
That’s why the Last call – Revelation 14:6,7 – is to worship Him as Creator. In the judgement going on today, we are judged according to whether we have truly worshiped Him – surrendered our will to His in obedience to the Word of God.
Worshipping in spirit & in truth – or in defiance and error.
Now you know why the dragon worked through the Beast to change Sabbath? He wants us to forget our Maker. To worship him instead. By the way, remember who made us? – Jesus - That’s why we worship Jesus.
Hebrews. 1:6,8
Let me tell you something, if you don’t already know it. - I would not talk about the Sabbath, unless it involves Jesus. If my Lord has nothing to do with it, The one who live a sinless life of toil and love – then died for me on Calvary. I would not take yours and my time and effort to cover it.
But we find that He did have something to do with it – Revelation 1:10 - “In Spirit on the Lord’s Day” – much confusion about this. Most call this Sunday - Nothing to indicate what day in the context here. Does show – one day special – calls His own.
If you want to know what day – find answer in the Bible. Matthew 12:8 - Lord of – what does it say? - Sabbath. Mark 2:28 - This is consistent throughout scriptures. Only day ever mentioned as having a special connection to our Redeeming Lord. Jesus and the scriptures continually point to the 7th day as the Lord’s Special Day.
This has always been God’s revealed truth - Let’s go to the Old Testament . . . Isaiah. 58:13 Here Sabbath called “My Holy Day” - “Holy Day of the “Lord.”
These texts make it abundantly clear that Sabbath is the day intimately connected with Christ. So, clearly the idea that the term “Lord’s Day” means the first day of the week cannot be supported from the Bible or contemporary literature.
The first clear designation of Sunday as “The Lord’s Day occurs toward the end of the 2nd century in the apocryphal Gospel of Peter.
This usage cannot be legitimately read back into Revelation 1:10. Both the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation were written near the end of the first century. If Sunday was already being called “the Lord’s Day,” we would expect that name to be used in both works.
Especially since they were apparently produced by the same author at about the same time and the same place.
But John consistently calls Sunday “the first day of the week.”
Why is the Sabbath called the “Lord’s Day”? Because Jesus made it to point to Himself. He instituted it as the memorial of His creative power and the worship of Him as Lord.
So who was the Sabbath really made for? Today people want to tell us that it was for the Jews. Mark 2:27,28 - “Sabbath was made for MAN” - “Man” used in generic sense – mankind – only Adam & Eve at that time. Greek word for “man” – is anthropos - meaning “all mankind, irrespective of nationality or sex.” Same as John 1:9 – Jesus”...the true Light of every man that comes into the world.”
Genesis 1:26, 27 Reveals two institutions from Eden – marriage and the Sabbath.
As I said - Some say the Sabbath was made for the Jews – every hear it called the “Old Jewish Sabbath”? Not so – “Sabbath of the Lord.” - Besides this, Sabbath given 2000 years before there even was a Jewish nation. Scripture never says, “Sabbath of the Jews” - but, “Sabbath of the Lord our God.” Not intended just for Jews any more than marriage. Thank God for that!
God intended that the Jews would invite the whole world into a fellowship with Him – a Sabbath rest and celebration – part of salvation experience. Isaiah. 56:2,4,6 - The Sabbath was not exclusively for the Jews, but also the FOREIGNERS, the GENTILES, the “SONS of the STRANGER” - Those that “join to the Lord to serve Him.”
Dr. Augustus H. Strong, of Rochester Theological Seminary, says in his book Systematic Theology pp. 408,409
SABBATH always kept – God kept – Adam & Eve kept – Genesis 2:2 - ABRAHAM kept . . .Genesis 26:5
This at the beginning of Israel’s history – God trying to reach the world through a nation who would be followers of His Word & Will.
Some mistakenly say that Sabbath not in effect until 10 Commandments at Sinai. But this is not in harmony with the Biblical truth. Moses & Israel – before Mount Sinai – before Law written on stone. Exodus 16:4,5 First notice the time frame - One month before Sinai – notice V. 1 Ex. 16:1 - 1 ½ months out of Egypt.
Came to Sinai - 3 months out of Egypt - Tested over Sabbath - “To see if keep Law or not.”
Exodus 19:1
Exodus 16:26, 28
1. 6th day double portion
2. Unused portion – kept not spoil
3. No manna fell on Sabbath
For 40 yrs. – kept Sabbath – God worked miracles concerning Sabbath.
Many think Christ changed . . .Remember text we read in . . . Matthew 5:17,18 He did not change any part of it – but obeyed it! This is central to the heart of the issue. What would Jesus do? Well, what did Jesus do? In fact, JESUS is our EXAMPLE.
1 Peter 2:21 says – he left example that you & I should follow.
We can follow the things He taught – the life that He lived – shows us God’s will for us today. We would never be lost if follow Him. Did Jesus keep Sabbath? - Luke 4:16
Same day He created in Eden - Same day He commanded at and before Sinai - Only day He ever kept – That’s why I keep it.
Say in Judgement – Jesus did: so I did – never be lost.
Notice - Disciples knew nothing of a change.
Remember in Matthew chapter 24 – when the disciples came to Jesus asking Him about the destruction of the temple? Verse 3 “When will these things be?” Jesus told them of destruction of Jerusalem and added in verse 20 something quite specific. Matthew 24: 20 - Destruction of Jerusalem – which Jesus knew would be 40 years after the Cross – A. D. 70
Why would Jesus encourage His disciples to pray that their flight not be on the Sabbath if at that time they wouldn’t be expected to be keeping it? They were told to keep the Sabbath for years to come.
Now, perhaps have Question: How can I know what day is the seventh day?
Several reasons - Both History & the Bible:
1) Webster says – “Seventh day = Saturday = the 7th day of week.”
2) Historically, the Jews have always kept . . . From Adam to the Disciples – To today.
3) Exodus 20:10 - Bible says: “7th day is the Sabbath of the Lord Thy God.”
4) Jews would have to sleep for over 24 hrs. no one tell them about it.
5) The very name - Clear proof. In over 100 ancient languages -
Calendar never changed to confuse weekly cycle –
a. We can be positive our 7th day the same.
b. Gregory VIII did make a change in 1582 – not weekly cycle –
c. Simply dropped 10 numerical days out –
d. Thursday Oct. 4, 1582 next day - Friday Oct. 15, 1582
No change or loss with the Sabbath since God made it.
6. Origin of week in creation. No scientific or astronomical reason for 7-day cycle of time - Arbitrary arrangement of God, miraculously preserved for one reason -
The Holy Sabbath Day points to creative power of the only true God.
Does it really make any difference? – As long as keep one day? Ever forget your wedding anniversary – wife’s Birthday? Does it matter? – As long as you keep a day – Right? – Wrong!!
Means enough for God to tell us not to forget but to Remember!
The 7th day Sabbath is only day God gave in Eden. Apparently important enough to keep in heaven.
Isaiah 66:22,23
God wants us to understand His purpose and plan for the Sabbath and us.
Only one day ever blessed, sanctified - Genesis 2:3, Exodus 20:11 - “Blessed the Sabbath day – “sanctified it.” “Hallowed” – “made holy”. What He blessed for us then – still blessed for us today.
Some might think, Robert – how could you be right and so many be wrong?
Well, it's not me against the others – but God’s Word. But let me remind you of what Jesus tells us in: Revelation 13:3
Going to see this clearly revealed in our coming presentations – especially with the Mark of the Beast presentation.
Revelation tells us that the great issue involves worship of the Beast or Jesus the Lamb.
Time to know what we believe from this Holy Book.
These are extremely urgent times. Must not play games with God! Must stick with the Bible and the Bible ONLY!
In our next presentation we are going to take a real deep Scriptural Analysis of what is currently believed and taught – We need to really see what is the Bible truth on this important matter.