First or Seveth Day Sabbath. Which is True, Which is a Lie?

When ever we have truth, there are those who like to take and twist it just enough so that it still seems believable and therefore truth as well. We know that there is only ONE true among MANY counterfeits.  The counterfeits that come closest to appearing true are the ones that are believed. We must not be deceived by ANY counterfeits but seek to believe only the TRUTH.

We are going to continue on with lessons from the Bible Study Guide put out by the Late Elder William Grotheer. He was a Biblical scholar on the scale I don't even register on. He always voiced His desire for people to STUDY for THEMSELVES.  He never told anyone to believe him and what he said but rather study and come to the truth on their own. He wanted people to think for themselves.  Never claiming perfection, for who among us is perfect, he ultimately had an amazing mind for Biblical study that I haven't found elsewhere. 

 We know that the closer we are to Christ the harder Satan will work to exploit our every weakness so that we fall away from Christ. All of us can only go to Christ and beg His forgiveness when we fail. Do our failings erase all the truth from us? Are only the perfect (who don't really exist) allowed to claim to know and teach truth? If that were the case than not a single Apostle could have preached the truth. Paul, himself, claimed to be nothing more than a wretched man, and yet he preached the truth. Do you suppose that those who looked only at Paul's sins, his shortcomings, and decided he no longer had any truth to give because of them, were in the right? We are but sinners claiming no righteousness of our own, but begging for forgiveness and laying hold of Christ's righteousness.

May we NEVER let anything keep us from studying the Bible and coming to the truth as the Holy Spirit guides us! May we never shut our minds to truth, but take all theories that come our way and hold them up to the only standard that exists, God's Holy Word. When they fail that test, discard them.  Never discard truth because of the imperfection of the truth giver.

With that all said, let us take this study and dig into our Bibles for the knowledge God would have us possess. His truth and ONLY His truth by the grace and mercy of our Lord!

*******
Lesson #5 -- THE FIRST DAY TEXTS IN THE BIBLE

    Introduction - In our previous study, we noted the doctrine of the Sabbath, and by following the Bible method for understanding doctrine - "line upon line and precept upon precept" - we brought together the outstanding verses in the Bible on that subject. Now in all fairness, because so many people observe the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, making it a Sabbath for worship, we need to note all the verses in the Bible which mention the first day of the week. As we study these verses, we should ask ourselves a question. Do these texts give me a command to observe the first day of the week in place of the seventh day?
   
    Genesis 1:5 -- And the evening and the morning were the first day.
   
    Note - This is the only verse in the entire Old Testament which mentions the first day of the week. It is referring to the first day of Creation on which God brought into existence the mass of the earth, and set it in motion, thus along with the creation of light, established day and night.
   
    Section #2 -- THE FIRST DAY IN THE GOSPELS
   
    Note - In the New Testament, there are eight references to the first day of the week, six of which are to be found in the Gospels and apply to the same first day, namely, the day on which Christ arose from the dead. Let us examine these.
   
    Mark 16:1-2 -- And when the Sabbath was past ... very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
   
    Note - This text merely tells us that when the women came to the sepulchre on the first day of the week to anoint Jesus' body, the Sabbath was past.
   
    Mark 16:9 -- Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week.
   
    Matthew 28:1 -- In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week.
   
    Note - This is merely stating the same thing we found in Mark 16. Jesus arose on the first day of the week, and certain women came after the Sabbath to the tomb in the early hours of Sunday morning. Weymouth translates this verse thus - 'After the Sabbath, in the early dawn of the first day of the week."
   
    Luke 24:1 -- Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre.
   
    Note - We noted this verse carefully in our previous lesson, and found that it was one of a series which outlines the days connected with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the previous chapter, it is clearly stated that the day before the first day is "the Sabbath day according to the commandment." (Luke 23:56) In this verse, there is no intimation that the command had been changed.
   
    p 21 -- John 20:1 -- The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdaline early unto the sepulcher.
   
    Note - This verse says nothing more than the other verses noting the activities of Christ's followers on the resurrection morning.
   
    John 20:19 -- Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, ... the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus ... and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
   
    Note - This is the first appearance of Jesus to His disciples- as a group after His resurrection. Mary had seen Him. (John 20:11-18) He had appeared to two disciples as they walked home to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-32) It appears that Simon Peter also saw Him. (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5). However, all of this testimony had not convinced the group that Jesus had indeed risen. Thus their gathering together was not to celebrate the resurrection, but "for fear of the Jews." Jesus' appearance was to quiet their fears and to convict their hearts. (Mark 16:12-14) The time of this meeting would correspond to our Sunday night. This is the last text in the Gospels which mentions the first day of the week.
   
    Section #3 -- PAUL AND THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
   
    Acts 20:7 -- And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech till mid-night.
   
    Note - This is the only recorded religious service in the New Testament to be held on the first day of the week. It was a night meeting, corresponding to our Saturday night. (Bible reckoning of time places the first day of the week from sundown Saturday till sundown Sunday.) A careful study of the context of this verse reveals some very interesting facts:
   
            (1)   Paul was on his way to Jerusalem. (verse 16) He stayed in Troas seven days. (Verse 6)
           
            (2)   The group of men Paul had with him left by boat that night for Assos, and planned to pick Paul up the next day. (Verse 13)
           
            (3)   Paul's service was interrupted, by the accident of Eutychus, who, because of Paul's long preaching, had fallen asleep while sitting in a window. (Verse 9)
           
            (4)   After this incident, Paul broke bread with them, and preached till the break of day. (Verse 11)
           
            These verses are merely recording a farewell meeting Paul had with the believers at Troas. However, it is also an incident of humor found in the Bible. You will observe that prior to this recorded experience, the narrative is in the first Person plural - "we" - and resumes with verse 13. The experience itself is told in the third person - "Paul." Naturally as Paul again joins his traveling companions, they ask him about the meeting the night before. He told them about the traumatic experience with Eutychus. But they asked Paul as to why this should have happened. He had to confess it was because he was a long-winded preacher. No doubt on other occasions they had chided him about going "over-time." Luke could not pass up this opportunity of telling about it.
           
    I Corinthians 16:2 -- Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
   
    Note - Paul had placed a burden upon the individual members of the churches to have an offering ready for the poor believers in Jerusalem (I Cor. 16:1, 3) This verse is not a command for a collection to be received at a church service, but asking that each one from his own funds, set aside a gift each week, and let it accumulate at home, so that the sum might be placed in the hands of representatives when Paul would come by on his way to Jerusalem. Two other translations of this verse will aid in our understanding of it.
   
    Weymouth reads: - "On the first day of the week, let each of you put up and keep any profit he may have made: so that there may be no collections made after I come." Lamsa, basing his translation on the Eastern Text, renders the verse thus - "Upon the first day of the week, let each of you put aside and keep in his house whatever he can afford, so that there may be no collections when I come."
   
    Section #4 -- ANOTHER TEXT
   
    Note - With I Cor. 16:2. we have surveyed all the verses in the entire Bible which mention the first day of the week. In none of them do we find an express command authorizing the observance of the first day in honor of the resurrection of Jesus: nor do we find the least suggestion that the first day was to replace the Sabbath of the Law of God as given at Mt. Sinai. There is, however, another text which is sometimes used to suggest this idea. We shall note it also.
   
    Revelation 1:10 -- I was in the spirit on the Lord's day.
   
    Note - Which day is the Lord's day? Using the analogy of Scripture - the comparing of spiritual things with spiritual - we can find our answer in Mark 2:28, where Jesus declared - "Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." So instead of this verse applying to the first day of the week, it in reality refers to the Sabbath as the true Lord's day.
   
    Section #5 -- HOW DID SUNDAY WORSHIP BEGIN?
   
    Acts 20:29-30 -- For I know this, that after my departing ... of your own-selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things.
   
    Note - Paul states that after his death, men would arise in the Church itself speaking perverse, that is,. erroneous things, which would be contrary to what he himself had taught. This is what has occurred. The Roman Catholic church, professing to be the true successor to the apostles, has altered the day of worship, and boasts about it. (See Insert - next page.)
   
    Matthew 15:9 -- In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
   
    Note - We love Jesus because He has done so much for us. Because of this, we do not desire to offer before Him a vain worship. But He stated plainly that if our worship is according to the doctrines of men, it is vain worship. Thus we are presented with a choice of worship, that which is of men, or that which is in spirit and in truth, according to the Word of God. We must keep in mind that God cannot accept from us worship contrary to His word, any more than He would accept the worship of Cain.
   
    (Webmaster Note: See also Hebrews chapter 4 - Here Paul is talking specifically about the Sabbath; note especially verse 8-11. Also see Facts of Faith, by C. Edwardson)
   
   
    (Webmaster note: Interesting to note in this letter is the date of 1905 and the amount offered ($1,000). In today's money that would maybe be close to $1 Million offered by a Catholic Priest for Protestants to prove from the Bible only where they are obligated to God to keep Sunday holy, which Father Enright here shows is a sign of the Roman Catholic's power to think to alter God's law. As he states, he offered this amount over and over again, and nobody stepped forward to prove it.)
   
    *******
   
    Truth.
   
    By the grace of God we learn truth.
   
    No where in our Bible, no where in God's Holy Word is the command to keep the first day of the week holy. God did NOT sanctify the first day. God did NOT make the first day holy.  God did not go on and on about Jesus' resurrection warranting a change in the Sabbath day of rest, a day that will always and forever point to CREATION, and as such REDEMPTION. There need be NO change to comprehend that our Savior was there during Creation, all things were created by Him.  Knowing this, we have to comprehend that our Savior who was there in Creation, our Savior who was there as the Ten Moral Laws were written in stone by the finger of God, would NOT alter one of those commandments without making it very, very clear. It would have been well known. There would have been volumes written upon this so that it was perfectly clear to us, not hidden in the shadows, not left to speculation, God does NOT work that way. 
   
    We must comprehend the importance of all of this! We must!  Our Savior tells us if we love Him we will keep His commandments.  People want to say He changed the commandments because He stressed loving God and loving our fellow man, they're wrong. He didn't change ONE jot (dot of an i) or one tittle (the cross of a t).
   
    Mat_5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
   
    Jesus' words!
   
    More tomorrow on all this, by the GRACE of our LORD, our SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!
   
    All in HIS LOVE!
   
   

Where are the truth keepers?

We've studied about the importance of God's law, of God's commandments. We've studied about the 'Whole duty of man- fearing God and keeping His commandments.'  We've studied about the magnitude of keeping God's law and no other's.  We've studied that Jesus was God with God from everlasting to everlasting and He was there with God as the ten moral laws were given to God's people. We've also studied that someone would think to change God's law.  That verse being…

Dan_7:25  And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High: and he shall THINK TO CHANGE THE TIMES AND THE LAW; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

And we know from our study of the ten moral laws only one of those moral laws deals with time.

Now let's study more about that one law-  (Please pray right now for the Holy Spirit to guide us into ALL truth as it is found in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior!)

Lesson #4 -- THE SABBATH OF THE LORD THY GOD

 Introduction - In the three preceding lessons, we have studied concepts of truth which will enable us to better understand this lesson. First, we noted how to establish a doctrine. Precept must be upon precept, and line upon line. (Isa. 28:9-10)

Secondly, we observed that God requires not only worship in spirit, but also according to truth. (John 4:24)

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Our worship of the Lord, even the day we observe, must be in harmony with the truth as found in the Word for such worship to be acceptable in His sight.

Thirdly, we studied the place of Jesus in the plan of the ages. We noted His stately movings in the Old Testament as our Creator and Lawgiver. These facts are important as we study this lesson.

Genesis 2:2-3 -- God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested.

Note - Without Christ was not anything made that was made. (John 1:3) HE AS OUR CREATOR, MADE THE FIRST SABBATH DAY by blessing and sanctifying that day above all the other six through the act of resting thereon Himself.

Exodus 20:8-11 -- The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.

Note - When one understands that Jesus is the Lawgiver, and equally God with the Father, this commandment takes on a new importance. The seventh day is not the sabbath of the Jews, but it is the Sabbath of the Lord God of Heaven. When we recognize Him as our God, then we happily accept the day He designated for His worship.

Isaiah 56:3, 6 -- The sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him. ... everyone that keepeth the Sabbath.

Note - Even In Old Testament times, when one who was not a Jew, turned from idolatry and paganism to serve the true God, he was not to count himself as separate from the people whom God had chosen, but was to take hold of the covenant, and keep the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the holy day of those who chose the Lord God.

Ezekiel 20:12, 20 -- I gave them MY Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them.

Note - This sign was for two purposes:

(1)   "That they might know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify them," and  
(2)   "That ye may know that I am the Lord your God."

The Sabbath is meaningful from God's viewpoint. It is His sign to us.

Section # 2 -- The Sabbath in the Gospels

Luke 4:16 -- He (Jesus) came to Nazareth where He had been brought up: and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Note - Jesus in His humanity is our Example. We are to follow in His steps (I Peter 2:21-22). We are to walk even as He walked (I John 2:6). He who made the Sabbath in the beginning, observed when upon earth. It was His custom to gather with others for worship on the Sabbath, and to participate in the service of worship.

p 16 -- Mark 2:27-28 -- The Sabbath was made for man ... The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.

Matthew 12:12 -- It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.

Note - In these verses we find the Lord of the Sabbath teaching the true meaning of the Sabbath. It was made for all mankind; a day in which he was to do good, and thus draw into close fellowship with Him who went about doing good. "It is a time when the spent spirit may catch its breath, and man may look into the face of God and be refreshed." The Sabbath is a day of liberty from the cares of life, enabling man to do the activities of the service of love. It is in such holy service that we see the face of God. Only thus can we worship our God in spirit and in truth.

Section #3 -- Which Day Is the Seventh Day?

Luke 23:50 - 24:3 -- This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down ... and laid it in a sepulchre.. .That day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.
The women ... which came with Him from Galilee ... returned and prepared spices ... and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

Now upon the first day of the week ... they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Note - Here in the gospel of Luke are three days marked out in succession:

(1)   The day of the crucifixion, commonly called Good Friday;  
(2)   The following day noted as "the sabbath day according to the commandment:" and  
(3)   The day of the resurrection, now called Easter Sunday. The only day between Friday and Sunday is Saturday, the seventh day. This then is the Sabbath of the Lord our God.

Section #4 -- Apostolic Practice and Teaching

Acts 13:14; 42-44 -- The Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath day ... And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Note - Ten years had passed since Paul had seen Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was now on his first missionary journey. Here was a remarkable opportunity for Paul to tell his Gentile listeners that a new day of worship had been appointed for them, if such had been done. When they, therefore, asked that the gospel be preached to them, Paul could have told them to come back on the morrow; but no, they waited a whole week till the next Sabbath day to hear the words of truth.

Acts 16:12-13 -- And on the Sabbath, we went out of the city by a river side where prayer was wont to be made.

Note - Even in cities where there was no synagogue available for Sabbath worship, Paul sought a place of prayer and study outside of the city. Consistently under all circumstances, Paul who was the Apostle to the Gentiles faithfully observed the Sabbath of the Lord his God.

Acts 17:2 -- Paul as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures.
Acts 18:4 -- And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath.
Hebrews 4:4, 9-10 -- And God did rest the seventh day ... There remaineth therefore a rest [margin - a keeping of a sabbath] to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, AS GOD DID FROM HIS.

Note - When one accepts the rest that Jesus offers in the invitation - "Come unto Me and I will give you rest " (Matt. 11 :28), he gives up his own works, and accepts the merits of the Saviour. As a memorial of the surrender to the recreative power of Jesus Christ, he ceases from his own works as God did from His in the first creation. "And God did rest the seventh day." It is interesting to note in passing that a translation of the Aramaic text of the New Testament renders Hebrews 4:9 thus - "It is therefore the duty of the people of God to keep the Sabbath." (Lamsa)

Section # 5 -- The Sabbath in the New Earth

Isaiah 66:22-23 -- The new heavens and the new earth ... it shall come to pass that ... from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.

Note - The Sabbath of the Lord our God will not cease, but in the new earth state, all beings will come and worship before the Lord on that day. Would it not be well now, to be in harmony with the worship of the world to come?

Section #6 -- The Time and Observance of the Sabbath

Leviticus 23:32 -- From even unto even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.
Mark 1:32 -- At even when the sun did set.

Note - God's division of time is from sunset to sunset. The days of creation began with the evening. "And the evening and the morning were the first day." (Gen. 1:5) So the holy Sabbath day begins on Friday evening at sunset, and continues till Saturday evening at sunset. The first hour on Friday night is just as sacred as the hour of worship in the middle of the day. Every hour of the Sabbath is God's time, and is to be reserved sacredly unto Him.

Isaiah 58:13-14 -- If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath ... and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.

Note - Here is a divine comment on the proper observance of the fourth commandment. Mere ceasing from work on the holy hours of the Sabbath is not necessarily keeping the Sabbath. An attitude of mind is involved. We must consider it a delight to thus honor the Lord, by laying aside the ordinary duties of life. In so doing, we seek His interests, not our pleasures; we study His words, not our thoughts: we follow His ways, not our paths. In this, the true essence of Sabbath observance is to be found - we delight ourselves in the Lord.

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

~~~

ITEMS FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION IN ADDITION TO THIS STUDY -- Sixty Bible Facts Concerning the Seventh Day

p 1 --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:

1. -- 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.)
2. -- 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.
3. -- 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.
4. -- The Creator blessed the seventh day. (Genesis 2:3.)
5. -- He sanctified the seventh day. (Exodus 20: 11.)
6. -- He made it the Sabbath day in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:1-3.)
7. -- It was made before the fall; hence it is not a type; for types were not introduced till after the fall.
8. -- 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.
9. --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.
10. --It was given to Adam, the head of the human race. (Mark 2:27; Genesis 2:1-3.)
11. -- Hence through him, as our representative, to all nations. (Acts 17:26.) TOP
12. -- It is not a Jewish institution, for it was made 2,300 years before ever there was a Jew.
13. -- The Bible never calls it the Jewish

p 2 -- Sabbath, but always "the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Men should be cautious how they stigmatize God's holy rest day.
14. -- Evident reference is made to the Sabbath and the seven-day week all through the patriarchal age. (Genesis 2:1-3; 8:10, 12; 29:27, 28, etc.)
15. -- It was a part of God's law before Sinai. (Exodus 16:4, 27-29.)
16. -- 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?

p 19 -- 17. -- The seventh-day Sabbath was commanded by the voice of the living God. (Deuteronomy 4:12, 13.)
18. -- Then He wrote the commandment with His own finger. (Exodus 31:18.)
19. -- He engraved it in the enduring stone, indicating its imperishable nature. (Deuteronomy 5:22.)
20. -- It was sacredly preserved in the ark in the holy of holies. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5.)
21. -- God forbade work upon the Sabbath, even in the most hurrying times. (Exodus 34:21.)
22. -- God destroyed the Israelites in the wilderness because they profaned the Sabbath. (Ezekiel 20:12, 13.)
23. -- It is the sign of the true God, by which we are to know Him from false gods. (Ezekiel 20:20.)
24. -- God promised that Jerusalem should stand forever if the Jews would keep the Sabbath. (Jeremiah 17:24, 25.)
25. -- He sent them into the Babylonish captivity for breaking it. (Nehemiah 13:18.)
26. -- He destroyed Jerusalem for its violation. (Jeremiah 17:27.)
27. -- God has pronounced a special blessing on all the Gentiles who will keep it. (Isaiah 56:6, 7.)
28. -- This is in the prophecy which refers wholly to the Christian dispensation. (See Isaiah 56.)
29. -- God has promised to bless all who keep the Sabbath. (Isaiah 56:2.)
30. -- 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.
31. -- After the holy Sabbath has been trodden down "many generations," it is to be restored in the last days. (Isaiah 58:12, 13.)
32. -- All the holy prophets kept the seventh day.
33. -- 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?
34. -- The seventh day is the Lord's day. (See Revelation 1: 14; Mark 2:28; Isaiah 5 8:13; Exodus 20: 10.)
35. -- 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).
36. -- He vindicated the Sabbath as a merciful institution designed for man's good. (Mark 2:23-28.)
37. -- Instead of abolishing the Sabbath, He carefully taught how it should be observed. (Matthew 12:1-13.)
38. -- He taught His disciples that they should do nothing upon the Sabbath day but what was "lawful." (Matthew 12:12.)
39. -- He instructed His apostles that the Sabbath should be prayerfully regarded forty years after His resurrection. (Matthew 24:20.)
40. -- The pious women who had been with Jesus carefully kept the seventh day after His death. (Luke 23:56.)
41. -- Thirty years after Christ's resurrection, the Holy Spirit expressly calls it "the sabbath day." (Acts 13:14.)
42. -- 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 modem teachers, who affirm that it ceased to be the Sabbath at the resurrection of Christ?
43. -- Luke, the inspired Christian historian, writing as late as A.D. 62, calls it the "sabbath day." (Acts 13:44.)
44. -- The Gentile converts called it the Sabbath. (Acts 13:42.)
45. -- In the great Christian council, A.D. 49, in the presence of the apostles and

p 3 -- thousands of disciples, James calls it the "sabbath day." (Acts 15:21.)
46. -- It was customary to hold prayer meetings upon that day. (Acts 16:13.)
47. -- Paul read the Scriptures in public meetings on that day. (Acts 17:2, 3.)
48. -- It was his custom to preach upon that day. (Acts 17:2, 3.)
49. -- 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.)
50. -- 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.
51. -- 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?
52. -- 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?
53. -- 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."
54. -- Not a word is said anywhere in the New Testament about the Sabbath's being abolished, done away, changed, or anything of the kind.
55. -- 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?
56. -- 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?
57. -- There is no record that God has ever removed His blessing or sanctification from the seventh day.
58. -- 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.)
59. -- 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.
60. -- 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.

Three points to consider after going through this study:

The Sabbath has been from eternity in heaven; God gave it to us at creation, he reaffirmed it through all the patriarchs and prophets through the Old Testament and to his chosen people. He reaffirmed it with his own Son Jesus Christ and through the Apostles all through the New Testament and, as we have already read in the Study from Isaiah, it will be continued in heaven at the end of time and for eternity. So, with all this evidence through thousands of years of history and the fact that we can find no biblical proof of a change, the question is - Why would any person believe God would change the day of worship for this short period of time only?

In the study of astronomy we are shown reasons for the existence of a Day, a Month, the four Seasons and a Year but there is no scientific reason for the existence of a Week -- EXCEPT THAT GOD INSTITUTED IT.

People say, "How can we tell which day is the Sabbath with all the calendar changes that have been made over the years." In looking at these calendar changes, such as the change from the Gregorian Calendar to the Julian Calendar, the numbering of the days has been changed, however, the weekly cycle has never been altered.         (Bible Study Guide - William Grotheer)

*******

Blessed and sanctified by God the Father, and by God who became the Son. Kept by the Son, who was God in the flesh.  So why do we even begin to imagine that this law is one that has no particular importance when it comes to its time-the day to honor it, to keep it holy? What gives us the right to discard that part of the law? Do we take the 'honor your mother and father' and add but only do it once in a while? Do we say 'do not steal', unless you really have to?  Do we believe that it's okay to commit adultery because it's what we want?  Have we the right to covet our neighbors goods? On and on we could go through all ten moral laws of God. And we can twist them accordingly to shape them into something acceptable to us, or we can take them as God's truth- holy and just- unchangeable as they were intended. 

The one who would think to change the times and the law- did he? We know he did. How many people do you know keep a Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday?  How many keep the entire Sabbath day holy? Count them. Maybe I'm wrong and you know a lot of people who do this, but I don't. There are millions and millions, and millions of people who do not keep God's law but instead keep a law man created to take the place of God's law, all the while calling it God's law. Deception! Lies! Where are the TRUTH KEEPERS?! Where are they?!  I'll tell you where they are… they are on a very narrow strait road.

By the grace of our LORD GOD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, more tomorrow!  In His LOVE!

Jesus said, If ye love me, keep my commandments

Today I want to pause in our Daniel study, the study of the law changer and why it is so important for us to keep God's law and not the law changed by the man of sin.

I'm pausing because I think we need a refresher (or at least I do) on our Savior.

The following is from the Bible Study Guide put out by William Grotheer. Please take your Bibles and study every verse given, don't just read it through and take anything Elder Grotheer is saying as truth. Study for yourselves!  It's a really good study, very informative, very enlightening.

May the Holy Spirit guide all who seek to know Jesus in ALL truth!

(Bible Study Guide)
Lesson #3 -- JESUS CHRIST - WHO IS HE?

p 10 -- Introduction -- In Lesson #2, we discovered that the Council of God is composed of three Beings, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each of these Three carry the full authority and nature of God. In this lesson we shall study the relationship of Jesus Christ to the Council of God, and His identification with humanity.

John 1:1-2, 14 -- In the beginning WAS the word ... the same WAS in the beginning with God ... The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

Note - No matter at what point in the remote past I accept as the point of beginning, the Word WAS. Not only this, but He was in the beginning with God. In other words, one can conclude there never was a time when the Word, which became flesh, was not. The preexistent Christ has always been!

Hebrews 1:8 -- Unto the Son ... Thy throne, 0 God.

Note - Here is language that cannot be mistaken. The Father asserts the Son's position in the Council of God. The Son too, is God.

John 8:57-58 -- Before Abraham was, I AM.

Note - In this discussion with the Jewish leaders, Jesus declares plainly His preexistence; not merely the fact that He existed before Abraham, but that in that preexistence, He was the I am - the self-existent One; and the I AM, - the ever-existent One. The question then arises - If Jesus Christ existed in the beginning with God as the I AM, how then is He the SON of God?

Psalm 2:7 -- 1 will declare the decree ... Thou art my Son.

Note - To assume that this text applies to Jesus Christ in regard to the question of His Sonship, would be to place a private interpretation on this verse. But by comparing Scripture with Scripture, we find its meaning.

Hebrews 1:5 -- This day have I begotten Thee ... I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to Me a Son.

Note - Here Psalm 2:7 is quoted and applied to Jesus Christ in contrast to the angels.

Further, the promise made by God to David (II Samuel 7:14) concerning His relationship to Solomon is noted to describe the Heavenly Father-Son relationship. Also in Hebrews, Christ's position as a Son is associated with His position as priest after the Order of Melchisedec - a "called" position. (Hebrews 5:5-6, 10)

 All of this was done so that we might understand the privilege of sonship to which we have been called. (Hebrews 2:10-11)

Section 2 -- THE REDEEMER

Philippians 2:5-8 -- Equal with God ... made Himself of no reputation ... became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

p 11 -- Note - The Possessor of Life voluntarily laid it aside and accepted death. As one beholds the price of his redemption, he sees that the purchase was made by no inferior Being, but by One equal with God. It was the sacrifice of Deity that was made on Calvary!

Jesus Christ stooped low in becoming man's Substitute. What a sacrifice this is. How little we give up, when asked to surrender all for this Gift!

Hebrews 2:14-17 -- As the children ... He took part of the same ... behooved Him in all things to be made like unto His brethren.

I Timothy 3:16 -- Great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.

Note - God came all the way to meet man in his need. He who was in the form of God, accepted our likeness and nature after four thousand years of sin. He took our flesh, and our blood. Yea, in ALL THINGS He was made like unto us, except in this experience, He did not sin. How this could be is called a mystery. Another, and perhaps a greater mystery, is why man, in the light of such a redemption, should stubbornly cling to his own way.

Section 3 -- THE CREATOR

John 1:1-3 -- All things were made by Him.

Ephesians 3:9 -- God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:14-16 -- By Him were all things created ... visible and invisible.

Note - From the invisible atom to the mightiest star, all is the handiwork of man's Redeemer. The hand that spaced the heavens, and formed from the dust of the earth, man in His own likeness, is the same hand that was nailed to the cross of Calvary for man's redemption.

Section 4 -- THE LAWGIVER

Nehemiah 9:12-15 -- Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai.

Note - Who is this - "THOU"? Who is the One that led the children of Israel from Egypt to the promised land? Who is the One who appeared to Moses in Mount Sinai? Again, we must use the Bible method of interpretation as outlined by the Holy Spirit - comparing one Scripture with another.

I Corinthians 10:1-4 -- That Rock was Christ.

Note - It was Jesus Christ Himself, who amid the glory and flame of Sinai, proclaimed the Law of the Council of God - even the Ten Commandments. Thus Jesus is OUR Creator, Lawgiver, and Redeemer. In future lessons we shall note Him as our High Priest, and Coming King. The Bible from beginning to end is the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the one and only true way to the Father.

Section 5 -- OUR RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS

p 12 -- John 14:15 If ye love Me, keep my commandments.

Note - His commandments are the Father's, and the Father's are His - even the Ten Commandments. In keeping them we show our love to Him. How can we do less when He has done so much for us? In another lesson we shall study the provision made so that we can keep the commandments.

*******

How can we study God's word and not see the truth? So many people want to divorce Jesus from the Ten moral laws. Tomorrow we are going to use this same study guide and study more about the laws of God.  It's so important that we realize that our Savior never ever abandoned the Ten Commandments, not ever! So for us to dare to do so, or to follow laws that have been changed is wrong!  We are accountable for following the truth as it is revealed to us, to hide our head in the sand is to damn ourselves eternally.  Our Savior IS the truth!  Our Savior wants us to follow His commandments. Our Savior really did say this--

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

And we know this--

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

Those who are Christ's will be keeping the commandments of God and they'll be able to do so through the faith of Jesus.

Jesus did not intend for the commandments of God to ever be destroyed or changed, not ever. Jesus never intended for the commandments to lose any of their importance, their truth, their righteousness that HE gives them.

Our pride, our arrogance tells us that we understand better than God, that He has to understand where we are coming from and how times have changed.  The road is NARROW and FEW will find it.  By the grace and mercy of our Lord may we be among those who find this narrow way and walk therein.

All in HIS LOVE!

Don't be deceived

Did you read the study from yesterday? If not, you really need to go back and read it so that this study makes sense.

We've been talking about the WHOLE DUTY OF MAN according to God. That WHOLE DUTY is to -

'FEAR GOD and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS'. 

God's words, NOT MINE! 

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Why are we so concerned with knowing what our duty is? Because EVERYTHING we do will be brought into judgment, every secret thing good or evil. If we know it is our duty to FEAR GOD and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS then we have a direction given to us by God. We can't tell God we had no clue what He expected of us. Our God is FAIR, our God is JUST, and when the world ends as we know it- all will agree this is truth!

Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The truth of this message isn't a simple one because Satan has been able to use his great deceptive powers and has the majority of the world believing in commandments that are HIS and NOT GOD'S, though everyone thinks they are from God.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

We are told NOT to be deceived, to let NO man deceive us.

We are told this…

Mat_24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mar_13:5  And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you

Deception is such a vile thing and MANY will be deceive their eternal lives LOST because they were deceived. It might seem that only the deceptive one should be punished, but when it comes to God's truth- all are able to know it and NOT be deceived. People ARE deceived because they allow themselves to be deceived.

They love evil -

Psa_52:3  Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness.

Joh_3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Choosing darkness, choosing deception, and in the end choosing eternal death. 

Because we choose TRUTH we must search it out.

The laws of God have been changed and yesterday we did a lot of studying to prove who dared to change the law. At the end of that section of study we found this--

'The decree of the emperor, Justinian, issued in A.D. 533, recognized the pope. as
the "head of all the holy churches." (Code of Justinian, book 1, title 1, section 4.). The
overwhelming defeat of the Ostrogoths in the siege of Rome, five years later (A.D. 538),
was a death blow to the third of the three horns that were uprooted. With the year 538,
then, begins the 1260 years of this prophecy of Papal control, which would ex. tend to the
year 1798. In that year the Reign of Terror occurred in the French Revolution and the
Roman Catholic religion was set aside in France, and the French army, under Berthier,
entered Rome and took the pope prisoner. He died in exile at Valence, France, the
following year. The long prophetic time span of papal rule was ended. The "deadly wound"
of Revelation 13:3 was inflicted—a wound which prophecy says is to be healed.'

The Papacy fit every prophetic puzzle piece given.  It truth!  Today we're going to continue with this study. Again, please READ everything, several times if you need to and do NOT forget to PRAY and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to all truth!

'THE 1260 DAY PROPHECY
A.D. 538 .------A.D. 1798
THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL

"Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of
the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea,
diverse one from another . . "And behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and It had
great Iron teeth . . and it had ten horns.

"I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little
horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold,
in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

"I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So
he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. Then I would know the
truth of the fourth beast. . And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which
came up, and before whom three fell; and of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that
spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

"I beheld, and the same horn made war With the saints, and prevailed against
them. .

"And he shall speak great words against the most High, .and shall wear out the
saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into
his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.."—Daniel 7:2-3, 7-8, 16, 19-21, 25.

THE PROPHECY OF REVELATION

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea . .
And I saw one of his heads as It were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was
healed: and all the world wondered after the beast . . And there was given unto him a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue
forty and two months."—Revelation 13:1, 3, 5.

The Bible predicted that the terrible little horn power of Daniel 7 and 8 was to rule
the world for 1260 years. It has been well-known for centuries that this little horn of Daniel
7 and the first beast of Revelation 13 symbolize the papacy. Also called the "man of sin" (2
Thessalonians 2: 3-4), and the "antichrlst" (1 John 4:3), the papacy was definitely
prophesied to have this ruling power for 1260 years. When did this predicted time span
begin and when did it end? The next page will give you this information.

THE AMAZING 1260 DAY PROPHECY

Here is the amazing prophecy of the 1260 days; also called the "time, times, and
dividing of time," and the "forty-two months."

A day stands for a year in Bible prophecy (Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6). A "time" in
prophecy is the same as a year (Daniel 11:13, margin and Revised Version). This
time-span prophecy is first mentioned in Daniel 7:25, where we are told that it is the length
of time that the terrible "little horn" power was to bear rule and destroy God's people.
During that time it would also try to change God's Law: "And he, [the little horn] shall speak
great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and
think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand for a time and times
and a dividing of time." Daniel 7:25.

This, in Hebrew, equals "a time, 2 times and half a time." Using the ancient
reckoning of 360 days to a year: 360 + 720 + 180 = 1260. And since a day is equivalent to
a year in Bible prophecy, this little horn power would rule for 1260 years. In Revelation12:6
we are told that the persecution would continue for "a thousand two hundred and
threescore days", which is 1260 prophetic days, or years. (Also note Revelation 11:3).
The God of heaven gave this important prophecy in yet a third way: The little horn
of Daniel 7 and 8 is the same as the first beast of Revelation 13: "And there was given unto
him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to
continue forty and two months. "—Revelation 13:5. (Compare Revelation 11:2.) Forty-two
months equals 1260 days. And Revelation also calls this time, times, and times, and half a
time" (Revelation 12:14 ,—just as Daniel does.

When did the little horn, symbolizing the papaya, have this rule? The decree of the
emperor, Justinian, in A.D. 533, recognized the pope as the "head of all the holy churches"
(Code of Justinian, Book 1, title 1, section 4). The overwhelming defeat of the Ostragoths
in the siege of Rome, just five years later (A.D. 538) was a death blow to the third of the
three horns that were uprooted (see Daniel 7:8).

With the year 538, then, begins the 1260 years of this prophecy of papal
domination, which would extend to 1798. In that year as the Reign of Terror continued in
the French Revolution and the Roman Catholic religion was set aside in France, the
French army, under Berthier, entered Rome and took the pope prisoner. The date:
February 10,1798. The imprisoned pope died in exile the following year in Valence,
France. A great cry was heard, "Catholicism is dead." The papacy had received the
"deadIy wound" of Revelation 13:3. But we are told that the wound is to be healed, and
that the time is coming when all the world will "wonder after the beast" (Revelation 13:3).
Only Papal Rome answers to the description of Daniel Seven. This chapter unveils
before us the Great Babylon of Revelation 12.17, and reveals the work it was to do in
tearing out part of God's holy Law and in hunting to the death His people.
"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the
saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws. And they shall be given into
his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. " Daniel 7:25.

Consider the following:
(1) The papal power occupies a unique place in the world—for it not only is a
religion but a kingdom as well. At the present time representatives and ambassadors from
more than forty major nations of the world come to counsel with its head of state, the pope.
Among these are representatives from the United States.

(2) The papacy came out of the Roman Empire, just as the little horn came out of
the fourth beast (Dan 7:7-8, 19-20, 23-25). It still has its headquarters in the same capital
of the ancient Roman Empire—Rome by the banks of the Tiber, in what is today called
Italy.."Long ages ago, when Rome through the neglect of the Western emperors was
left to the mercy of the barbarous hordes, the Romans turned to one figure for aid and
protection, and asked him to rule them; and thus commenced the temporal sovereignty of
the popes. And meekly stepping to the throne of Caesar, the vicar of Christ took up the
scepter to ' which the emperors and kings of Europe were to bow in reverence through so
many ages."—American Catholic Quarterly Review, April,. 1911.

"Out of the ruins of political Rome, arose the great moral Empire in the 'giant form'
of the Roman Church"—A.C. Flick, The Rise of the Mediaeval Church, 1909, p. 150.
"Under the Roman Empire the popes had no temporal powers. But when the
Roman Empire had disintegrated and its place had been taken by a number of rude,
barbarous kingdoms, the Roman Catholic church not only became independent of the
states in religious affairs, but dominated secular affairs as well.

At times, under such rulers as Charlemagne (768-814), Otto the Great (936-973),
and Henry III (1039-1056), the civil power controlled the church to some extent; but in
general, under the weak political system of feudalism, the well-organized, unified, and
centralized church, with the pope at its head, was not only independent in ecclesiastical
affairs but also controlled civil affairs." —Carl Conrad Eckhardt, The Papacy and
World-Affairs, The University of Chicago Press, 1937, p.1,

(3) It, was given its religious power over the nations at exactly the time predicted.
The last of the ten divisions was formed in A.D. 476, and three of them, the Heruli in 493,
the Vandals in 534, and the Ostrogoths in 538, were destroyed at the instigation of the
papacy because they held divergent religious views. The last of these was wiped out just
five years after emperor, Justinian, by decree proclaimed the pope to be the visible head
over all churches everywhere.

The recognition of; the Roman See as the highest ecclesiastical authority
remained the Cornerstone of his [Justinian's] policy in relation to the west."—G. Kruger,
"Justinian I, Emperor of the East, "in The New Shaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious
Knowledge, Vol. 6, p. 286.

"Down to the sixth century all popes are declared saints in the martyrologies.
Vigilius (537-555) is the first of a series of popes who no longer bear this title, which is
henceforth sparingly conferred. From this time on the popes, more and more involved in
worldly affairs, no longer belong solely to the Church;—they are men of the state, and then
rulers of the state."—Charles Bemont and G. Monod, Medieval Europe from 395 to 1270,
pp.120-121 [It is widely recognized that Vigilius' reign began in 538, the year that so much
power was given to the papacy by Justinian. His predecessor, Pope Silverius, did not die
until June, 538].

The Constitution of Justinian (chapters 1 and 2 in his Civil Law) decreed that the
pope of Rome was henceforth to be legally recognized as the first pontiff of all world
churches.

(4) The 1260 year rule of the papacy continued exactly in accordance with the time
prophecy. From A.D. 638, when the sword of Belisarius elevated Pope Vigilius as
universal pontiff, to the time when the sword of Berthier thrust Pope Pius VI from office, in
1798, was exactly 1260 years.

"When in 1797, Pope Pius VI fell grievously ill, Napoleon gave orders that in the
event of his death no successor should be elected to his office, and the Papacy should be
discontinued. But the Pope recovered. The peace was soon broken: Berthier entered
Rome on the tenth of February, 1798, and proclaimed [Rome to be] a republic. The aged
Pontiff refused to violate his oath by recognizing it, and was hurried from prison to prison in
France. Broken with fatigue and sorrows, he died on the seventeenth of August, 1799, in
the French fortress of Valence, aged 82 years. No wonder half of Europe thought
Napoleon's veto would be obeyed, and that with the Pope, the Papacy was
dead."—Joseph Rickaby, The Modem Papacy, p.l. .

(5) The papacy is a religious power, and the man at its head that is both the center
and the key to the whole organization—is the pope. Without him there would be no
papacy. It is the religion of a "man. "

(6) "And upon his heads the name of blasphemy." Revelation 13:1. He will speak
"great things" (DanieI7:8), "very great things" (Daniel 7:20). "great words against the most
High" (DanieI7:25},and "great things and words of blasphemes (Revelation 13:5). "And he
opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name." Revelation 13:6.
"'Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so
that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 2
Thessalonians 2:4.

"All the names which in the Scriptures are applied to Christ, by virtue of which it is
established that he is over the church, all the same names are applied to the Pope."—
Robert Bellarmine, On the Authority of the Councils, chapter 17, 1628 ed., vol. 1, p. 266
"We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty." —Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical
Letter of June 20, 1894.

. . "For not man, but God separates those whom the Roman Pontiff (who exercises
the functions, not of mere man, but of the true God), having weighed the necessity or
benefit of the churches, dissolves, not by human but rather by divine authority."—The
Decretals of Gregory IX, book I, title 7, chap. 3, in Corpus Juris Canonici, 1555 ed., vol. 2,
col. 203.

"The pope is supreme judge of the law of the land. . He is the vicegerent of Christ,
and is not only a priest. forever, but also King of kings and Lord of lords." — La Civilta
Catholica, March 18, 1871.

"Christ entrusted His office to the chief pontiff . . but all power in heaven and in
earth has been given to Christ; . . therefore the chief pontiff, who is His vicar, will have this
power."—Corpus Juris Canonici, 1555 ed., vol. 3, Extravagantes Communes, book 1
chap. I, col. 29.

"Hence the Pope is crowned with a triple crown, as king of heaven and of earth and
of the lower regions [infernorum the fiery place] :'—Lucius Fermris, Prompta Bibliotheca,
'Papa" (the Pope), art. 2, 1772—1777 edition, vol. 6; p. 29.

"All the faithful must believe that the Holy Apostolic See and the Roman Pontiff (the
Pope] possesses the primacy over the whole world, and the Roman Pontiff is the
successor of Blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and is true vicar of Christ, and head of
the whole church, and father and teacher of all Christians; and that full power was given to
him in blessed Peter to rule, feed. and govern the universal Church by Jesus Christ Our
Lord:'—First Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ, "Eternal Pastor," published in
the fourth session of the Vatican Council, 1870, chap. 3, in Philip Schaff, Creeds of
Christendom, vol. 2, p. 262..

(7) 'He "shall wear out the saints. of the most High" (Daniel 7:25). He shall tread
down the host, or the people of God (Daniel 8:13, a parallel prophecy to Daniel 7). "And. .
the dragon [Satan, through the apostate church] . .persecuted the woman [the true church]
which brought forth the man-child. [Christ]. And to the woman were given two wings of a
great eagle. that she might fly Into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished
for a time, and times and half a time [1260 years], from the face of the serpent. And the
serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to
be carried away of the flood. Revelation 12:13-15. "And it was given unto him to make war
with the saints, and to overcome them, and power was given Him over all kindreds, and
tongues, and nation. Revelation 13:1

"That the church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution
that has ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a
competent knowledge of history. . It is impossible to form a complete conception of the
multitude of her victims, and it is quite certain that no powers of imagination can
adequately realize their sufferings."—W.E.H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influence of
the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, vol. 2, p. 32, 1910 edition.

(An excellent though lengthy article describing in detail the right of the Roman
Catholic Church to do this, will be found in The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol.12,p. 266)..
"For professing faith contrary to the teachings of the Church of Rome history
records the martyrdom of more than one hundred million people. A million Waldenses and
Albigenses [Swiss and French Protestants] perished during a crusade proclaimed by
Pope Innocent III in 1208. Beginning from the establishment of the Jesuits in 1540 to
1580, nine hundred thousand were destroyed. One hundred and fifty thousand perished
by the Inquisition in thirty years. Within the space of thirty-eight years after the edict of
Charles V against the Protestants, fifty thousand persons were hanged, beheaded, or
burned alive for heresy. Eighteen thousand more perished during the administration of the
Duke of Alva in five and a half years."—Brief Bible Readings, p. 16.

[On August 24, 1527, Roman Catholics in France, by prearranged plan, under
Jesuit influence, murdered 70,000 Protestants within the space of two months. The pope
rejoiced when he heard the news of the successful outcome. Read "Great Controversy,"
chapter 15, for the details. "Catholics say only 30,000 were slain. Protestants put the
number at 70,000. We prefer the latter figure. If there were 70,000 Huguenots [French
Protestants] in Paris the night of the massacre, so much the more justification for the
slaughter. . We have heard ring out many times the very bells that called the Catholics
together on that fatal night. They always sounded sweetly in our ears" —Western
Watchman, Nov. 21, 1912 [Roman Catholic]

"The Catholic has some reason on his side when he calls for the temporal
punishment of heretics, for he claims the true title of Christian for himself exclusively, and
professes to be taught by the never-failing presence of the Spirit of God...it is not more
'morally' wrong to put a man to death for heresy than for murder, . . [and] in many cases
persecution for religious opinions is not only permissible, but highly advisable and
necessary."— "The Lawfulness of Persecution," in The Rambler, 4, June, 1849, pp. 119,
126[Roman Catholic].

"You ask if he [the Roman Catholic] were lord in the land, and you were in a
minority, if not in numbers yet in power, what would he do to you? That, we say, would
entirely depend upon circumstances. If it would benefit the cause of Catholicism, he would
tolerate you: If expedient, he would imprison you, banish you, fine you; possibly, he might
even hang you. But be assured of one thing: He would never tolerate you for the sake of
'the glorious principles of civil and religious liberty' . . Catholicism is the most intolerant of
creeds. It is intolerance itself, for it is truth itself."—Civil and Religious Liberty," in The
Rambler, 8, Sept., 1851, pp. 174, 178. {"The Rambler" was an English Roman: Catholic
journal published from 1848 to 1862].

(8) The Bible predicted that Rome would try to change the law of God, and in its
place substitute laws of its own making. "And he shall speak great words against the most
High, and think to change times and laws." Daniel 1:25. "And it cast down the truth to the
ground, and it practiced and prospered." Daniel 8:12. "And the dragon was wroth with the
woman [the true church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep
the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:11.
Seals and Marks have been used for thousands of years to mark and separate
people—and God predicts in the book of Revelation that in the time just ahead a massive
marking and sealing of men's mind will be done.

OUTLINE OF DANIEL SEVEN
1-6, 17 — Dream of three great beasts, representing three successive world
empires (Babylon, 603-538 B.C.; Medo-Persia, 538-331;Grecia, 331-168 B.C.)
7, 19,23 — The fourth beast (Pagan Rome 168 B.C.c. A.D.-538).
8; 20, 24 — The ten horns proceeding from it (see p- 8 for listing).
8,11,28-22, 24-26 — The terrible little horn power (Papal Rome, A.D. 538-1798,
with a later healing of its wound).
9-10,13-14, 22,26 — The Judgment Session in Heaven.
27 —The Second Advent of Christ, an eternity with Him.'

(Mark of the Beast -  E.G.White)

*******

Do you see the truth?!

Do you dare to believe the truth?!

You might think this is too much to study, but in light of the importance-  to have eternal life or not have eternal life- you would think no study would be too much!

Go ahead and let yourself be deceived by believing only in the feel good religion so many peddle. Go ahead and keep yourself from the truth, citing it's too much to take it, too much to comprehend. You make the choices that lead you truth and life. Our Savior is the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE and it was our Savior who was in agreement with God when the moral law was given, when the ten moral commandments were created and put in the ark of the covenant.

Through our Savior we are able to fulfill the 'WHOLE DUTY of MAN'.
Through our Savior we can FEAR GOD.
Through our Savior we can KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of GOD.

To think we have no active contribution after we accept Christ as our Righteousness, is to NOT believe Christ's word, and therefore not to really believe in Christ at all, but a false Christ, a pretender.

By HIS GLORY! BY HIS LOVE! All PRAISE and HONOR to HIM OUR SAVIOR AND KING, JESUS CHRIST!

More tomorrow, by His GRACE.

Who would think to change God's law?

His Commandment-His Law

The fourth commandment of the ten moral laws kept sacred in the ark of the covenant in the most holy place of the sanctuary.

The commandment that deals with time.

Is the following truth?

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Is this STILL the whole duty of man? Did the whole duty of man change? Are we no longer accountable for every work, every secret thing, good or evil? Why would the whole duty of man change? Why would no longer be accountable for our every work, our every secret thing good or evil? Did God STOP holding us accountable? When did that happen?

This is still truth- Rev_14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

And when was it written? Old Testament times? No. It was written during the New Testament times. A prophecy and in that prophecy is connected the JUDGMENT- and the worship of HIM that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of water.

Now read the fourth commandment of God's moral law-

Exo 20:8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exo 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

The Lord- Him that made- heaven and earth, and sea.

Why do we fail to see the significance of the judgment and THIS particular commandment?

Dan_7:25  And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High: and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

… he shall think to CHANGE the TIMES and the LAW…

Changing the law.
Changing the times.

Yesterday we discussed that we can KNOW who would do that, and how important it is for us to know not only who, but how and why this change took place. If we are to keep God's law, if this is our whole duty- if we will be judged accordingly we sure better know what His law is and make sure we keep it.

I'm going to change tracks here for a moment before I go further with this…

I say we are to KEEP God's law that this is our whole duty and I mean it. I mean that we will be judged accordingly. However some of us will have an Advocate to stand up for us as we are judged, and some won't. That Advocate will be able to speak on our behalf because we have REPENTED and CONFESSED of our failures to keep the law of God.  Does having an Advocate mean we shouldn't worry about keeping the law? No! Because the law is the standard we are to live by eternally, it is a law written out of love.  If you have an attorney standing up for you in court and they can only defend you properly if you've confessed everything to them, does that mean you are free to continue breaking the law? We are NEVER free to break the moral law of God, but we know when it happens we do have an Advocate who will plead for us when our name comes up and the decision is made whether or not we are judged and found in His righteousness. 

1Jn_1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

IF we confess.

Keeping the law by itself will NEVER save us, because we cannot keep the law perfectly without Christ, not ever. So as we continue to discuss the WHOLE duty of man and know that we are to FEAR God and KEEP His commandments, we must ever keep in mind that it is only through Christ and His righteousness that we are forgiven and cleansed.

Now back to the 'HE' who would think to change the times and laws of God.

Read ALL of the following- using your Bibles- making sure you PRAY for the Holy Spirit to guide you! If you can't read it all in one sitting, make it two or three sittings but do NOT neglect to read this, study this!

*******

'TEARING DOWN THE FOUNDATIONS

DANIEL  SEVEN

In a vision of prophetic history, Daniel the Hebrew prophet-statesman of Babylon
was shown the rise and fall of four vast empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and
Rome. This is recorded in Daniel 2 and 7—in two parallel prophecies. About a thousand
years before the events occurred, he foresaw the dismemberment of Western Rome, the
rise of the Papacy, and the establishment of the "ten kingdoms" which have developed
into the great nations of Southern and Western Europe, Regarding the correctness of this
fulfillment, nearly all conservative Protestant students of prophecy agree.

The Seventh Chapter of Daniel especially goes into detail on the prediction of the
antichrist power that for long ages was to seek to crush God's people and do away with
His Moral Law.

Daniel 7 gives a careful description of the rise of this power. Daniel calls it the
"Little Horn." After seeing in vision a series of four symbolic animals arise out of the sea,
an angel explained: 'The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall
be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down,
and break in pieces." Daniel 7:23.

This fourth beast is further described as having ten horns arising out of its head,
and we are told what they represent: 'The ten horns out of this kingdom are ten king's that
shall arise." Daniel 7:24.

Then in the dream, Daniel, as he slept, was to watch as a little horn grew in the
midst of the ten horns. As it arose, it uprooted three of those horns. The angel explained
this to Daniel: "Another [king] shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first,
and he shall subdue three kings." Daniel 7:24. And then, continuing, he gives us the most
important verse in Daniel Seven —Daniel 7:25, the verse that explains the three basic
things the man of sin, or little horn power, would do, and how long he would have this
power:

"And he shall [1] speak great words against the Most High, and [2] shall wear out
the saints of the Most High, and [3] think to change times and laws. And they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. " Daniel 7:25.

Elsewhere in this chapter we are told more about this little horn power: 'And
behold, in this [little] horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great
things. " DanieI7:8.

"That [little] horn. . had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose
look was more stout than his fellows." Daniel 7:20.

I beheld, and the same [little] horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them." Daniel 7:21. This vision of Daniel 7 is described in verses 2.14, and mentions the . . little horn power in only one verse (7:8).

But the work of this little horn in trying to destroy both God's Law and His people was so
terrible that, in the explanation that followed (verses 17-28), most of it is about this fourth
beast and its little horn.

Clearly, the little horn was to be a deadly power reigning among the kings of the
earth that would assume the right to control the faith and consciences of men.

Just what is this fourth beast—with its ten horns—out of which this little horn
power was to arise? Student's of history I recognize that the fourth world kingdom after
Daniel's time was the kingdom of Rome.

The Roman Empire controlled civilization in the days of Jesus Christ, and it indeed
was a power to "devour the whole earth, and. . tread it down, and break it in pieces."
Daniel 7:2,3. (compare verse 7).

But prophecy foretold that this fourth beast, pagan Rome was to be divided. Ten
horns were to grow out of its head, representing ten kings, or kingdoms, that would arise
out of the Roman Empire. Students of history will again recognize that Rome was indeed
divided—and it was divided into ten divisions: the Franks, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Heruli,
Burgundians, Suevi, Saxons, Lombards, Alamanni, and Vandals.

The prophecy said that still another horn was to arise after Rome had been divided
into its ten parts. Let us now consider this Little Horn:

(1) This little horn is to be a kingdom as the other horns are kingdoms. "The ten
horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise. And another shall rise after them,
and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. "Daniel 7:24.
(2) This little horn power is to come from the same source that the other ten horns,
or kingdoms, came from. "I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among
them another little horn." Daniel 7:8. Therefore, it was to come out of Rome.
(3) We can get the approximate date when this little horn was to arise. It would gain
its regal powers after the other horns had arisen. "And another shall rise after them."
Daniel 7:24. This could not take place until the last of the ten divisions of Rome was
formed.
(4) It was to uproot three horns, or three of Rome's divisions. Seven of these
divisions have existed down to our time. Anglo-Saxon modern England. Franks—France.
Lombards—Italy. Alamanni—modern Germany. ,Burgundian modern Switzerland.
Suevi—modern Portugal. Visigoths—modern Spain. But the Heruli, Vandals, and
Ostrogoths have no modern counterpart. They were uprooted by the little horn power at
the time it was arising.
(5) "He shall be diverse from the first." Daniel 7:24. Although a kingdom, it would
be a radically different kind of kingdom. The others were civil—this one would be religious.
(6) This religion, exercising the power and force of a worldly kingdom, was to have
a leader at its head, for it speaks through the "mouth of a man." "And behold in this [little]
horn] were eyes, like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. " Daniel 7:8. A
man was to be at the head of this power, a man with human eyes and a human mouth:
(7) This mouth would speak great things. Revelation 13 is a parallel prophecy of
this apostate power and its blasphemies. And elsewhere we are told: "He opened his
mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them
that dwell in heaven." (Revelation 13:6), which agrees with the statement of Daniel 7.:25:
"He shall speak great words against the most High. " This man is to be guilty of
blasphemy. He is to speak great words against the God of Heaven.
(8) This power will try to destroy God's people for not submitting to its teachings. 'I
beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them" It was
predicted that he would "wear out the saints of the most High." Daniel 7:21,25.
(9) We are told the length of time that this power would have supremacy. "And they
shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. " Daniel 7:25. In
Revelation 13, speaking of the same power, we are told, "And there was given unto him a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue
1. [margin: make war] forty and two months. " Revelation 13:5. . (Compare Revelation
11:2). And, again, in Revelation 12:6, the length of time (a time span parallel to 11:3) is
spoken of I as 'a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Read each of the above
passages carefully. A "day" in prophecy stands for a year (Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6). A
"time" in prophecy is the same as a year (Daniel 11:13, margin, and Revised Version).
Three and a half times would be three and a half years. This is the same as 42 months.
And both are equal to 1260 days or years. (A prophetic year was composed of 360 days or
12 months of 30 days each).

This is the symbolic time of Bible prophecy. And so as it was predicted "for over a
thousand years the Little Horn power ruled men's lives.

The decree of the emperor, Justinian, issued in A.D. 533, recognized the pope. as
the "head of all the holy churches." (Code of Justinian, book 1, title 1, section 4.). The
overwhelming defeat of the Ostrogoths in the siege of Rome, five years later (A.D. 538),
was a death blow to the third pf the three horns that were uprooted. With the year 538,
then, begins the 1260 years of this prophecy of Papal control, which would ex. tend to the
year 1798. In that year the Reign of Terror occurred in the French Revolution and the
Roman Catholic religion was set aside in France, and the French army, under Berthier,
entered Rome and took the pope prisoner. He died in exile at Valence, France, the
following year. The long prophetic time span of papal rule was ended. The "deadly wound"
of Revelation 13:3 was inflicted—a wound which prophecy says is to be healed.'

More tomorrow by the GRACE OFOUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! In HIS LOVE ALWAYS!

His Commandments and NO Others!

We've been talking about OUR duty and that is to 'Fear God' and 'Keep His commandments'.  We also discussed how there would be a power that would CHANGE God's law!  Logic prevails and tells us that if someone changes God's law, and that someone isn't God Himself, then the law we would be following would NO LONGER be God's law! Therefore, if we are keeping the changed law believing all the while we are keeping God's law, God's commandments, then we are wrong and we are NOT keeping God's commandments! 

Have you ever heard the saying- 'ignorance of the law is no excuse' ? This is truth. We cannot claim ignorance when we have the means to know the truth. God has given us His commandments, God has warned us someone would think to change His commandments, His law, but that wasn't the end of it. God gave us all we would need to know about who it was that would think to change His law.  People can KNOW who changed it, they can know what law was changed, but shockingly people don't care.  People have made it so that God's ten moral laws are outdated, strangely enough, not all of them though.  Or they've made it so the change isn't so bad, it fits right in with things, it's a harmless change.  They've even gone so far as to misinterpret things so that the change seems to be warranted, and people believe them!

God would NOT change His moral laws. The ten commandments are unchangeable as God Himself. The ceremonial laws could be altered and were, but those ten moral laws were the only laws to be put in  the Ark of the Covenant, and placed in the Most Holy Place of God's sanctuary. The ceremonial, dietary, and other laws were not put in that sacred Ark.  We've discussed it before just a few days ago how Jesus was God with God when the world was created and when these laws were given. Jesus has been from everlasting just as the Father God. Jesus had an everlasting existence and lived as God with God before He took on human flesh. Jesus knew all about the ten commandments and was in full agreement with them. So why do we ever imagine laws that were perfect to begin with would need to be changed for any reason at all?  They wouldn't. And God has told us that someone would think to change His law.

Let's look at the commandments and whether or not any have been changed that we know of throughout the years-

Exo 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

No.

Exo 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

No.

Exo 20:7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

No.

Exo 20:8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exo 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Yes.

Exo 20:13  Thou shalt not kill.

No.

Exo 20:14  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

No.

Exo 20:15  Thou shalt not steal.

No.

Exo 20:16  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

No.

Exo 20:17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

There is only one law that has been tampered with, the rest of them are untouched.

We have no quibbles over most of these laws but when we come to the fourth commandment there is a great disparity between various religious factions and their ideas of when this commandment is to be kept. Should it be kept on the seventh day, the first day, or sixth day of the week? Why is there so much confusion over this- TIME change, which would change the LAW.

People know in history that for thousands and thousands of years the Jewish calendar reveals the seventh day and the fact of the Sabbath being kept on that day. The Sabbath wasn't changed from the seventh day to the first day until Constantine in the early 300's. This is history.

I imagine already some who are reading this are just shaking their heads, thinking this doesn't matter, it's nitpicking, but it does matter!

God gave us laws and told us that someone would think wrongly to change them!

We are told that it is our duty to Fear God and Keep His Commandments, how can we do that if we are keeping someone else's commandments?   This is IMPORTANT! This isn't a minor inconvenience, but something that is important eternally. Do we bother with studying it more, or do we just throw all this aside and holdfast to our belief that it doesn't matter?

I'll tell you one thing, Satan doesn't want us studying it more, he loves the deception he's created and has practically hoodwinked everyone in one way or another so that they either don't care or don't believe.

We are going to study this more tomorrow because it is our WHOLE DUTY to Fear God and Keep HIS Commandments.  HIS Commandments, and no others!

All by HIS GRACE! All in HIS LOVE! HIS MERCY! HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Our Commander - Our Creator

We are commanded.

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

We have a Commander. 

In order to have commands we must have someone giving those commands, those commands don't just appear all on their own from no where.

Our Commander is our Creator.  Our Creator. You were not born without a Creator. People will tell you that we have no creator, that we just came into being by chance. People will also say as soon as mankind could reproduce they became their own creators, meaning that each successive generation born is born further and further from the original created beings, therefore we owe nothing to that original creator because we can create on our own, we don’t need a creator to perpetuate our existence.

People say a lot of things, as long as they don't have to obey the commands of their Creator. They can't see Him, they can't carry on a conversation with Him, they can't argue with Him, they can't debate with Him, they can't touch Him, that can't smell Him, they can't hear Him therefore He can't exist.

The Creator was all those things to the first pair He created and then everything went horribly wrong. Mankind decided they didn't need to be obedient to their Creator. Mankind shut the door, slammed the door hard on their Creator.  He gave them EVERYTHING, and they in turn decided not to obey His command to them. They decided in a split second that somehow their Creator wasn't being forthright with them, that there was more He could give them but was withholding it from them for no good reason at all. They took all that their Creator gave them and threw it away through disobedience. They weren't being oppressed, abused, tortured, and yet all they had wasn't enough. These created beings were ungrateful. These created beings decided they didn't have to obey their Creator and would rather do as they pleased. When they disobeyed their Creator and turned their back on Him, rejecting Him, He no longer could be with them. It wasn't HIM leaving them, but them leaving Him by choice!  Yes, they were banished from the garden but ONLY because of their own disobedience, their own choice. And still, we know that God did not abandon them entirely. He listened to them, He accepted or rejected their sacrifices- the sacrifices they were making in hopes of somehow making things right between them and Him. They realized their mistake but weren't sure how to fix things. Their Creator had a plan though, and it wasn't going to be easy. The disobedience by mankind threw the Creator's entire idea for them into an uproar. The Creator could have simply blotted all mankind out of  existence, He did not have to let them survive.  He didn't want to end their existence though, they were very SPECIAL creations to Him, made in His image!

So, while NO longer having the face to face, the one on one, the physical contact that seeing, touching, and hearing all can bring --the Creator had a plan and He has revealed that plan to His creations, allowing EVERYONE an opportunity know that plan.  The plan of Salvation.

Still, there are many people who don't believe, who choose NOT to believe in a Creator, let alone believe He has given them commands to follow.

Faith is a HUGE part of our Creator's plan. Believing, trusting, hoping.

I know I refuse to believe that there is no Creator, no plan of Salvation, nothing but our existence here and now and then… nothing. I refuse to believe we just happened to exist.

There is a Creator and His love for us is written in His Word to us.

Yesterday we talked about the commandments and how we are not to change a single one, not a single law not a single time involved in the law.

One thing you HAVE to notice, there is only one of the ten commandments that involves time- this is NOT something we can ignore.

Exo 20:8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Amazing isn't it? Not only does this one commandment deal with time, it deals with the reality of our CREATOR!

We aren't to change times or laws, and yet they would be changed and this would happen by one who is against God's Word, against God's commands, choosing rather their own times and laws.

Is this important? 

We are told this--

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Keep his commandments.

Are we keeping HIS commandments, or another's? Are we keeping the commandments that have been altered, changed or God's original commandments?

More tomorrow by the GRACE of our LORD and SAVIOR!

All in HIS LOVE!