but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shall 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. 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. Exodus
20:8-11.
I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the
Lord that sanctify them. Ezekiel 20:12.
“The importance of the Sabbath as a memorial of creation is that it keeps ever present the true
reason why worship is due to God,”-because He is the Creator, and we are His creatures. “The Sabbath,
therefore, lies at the very foundation of divine worship; for it teaches this great truth in the most impressive
manner, and no other institution does this. The true ground of divine worship,
not of that on the seventh day merely, but of all worship, is found in the distinction
between the Creator and His creatures. This great fact can never become obsolete, and must never be forgotten.”
- J. N. Andrews, “History of the Sabbath,” chapter 27.
It was to keep this truth ever before the minds of men, that God instituted the Sabbath in Eden.
And so long as the fact that He is our Creator continues to be a reason why we should worship Him, so
long the Sabbath will continue as its sign and memorial. Had the Sabbath been universally kept, man's
thoughts and affections would have been led to the Creator as the object of reverence and worship, and
there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel. The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of
loyalty to the true God, “Him that made heaven; and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” It
follows that the message which commands men to worship God and keep His commandments, will
especially call upon them to keep the fourth commandment.” - The Great Controversy, page 438.
The Sabbath is ever the sign that distinguishes the obedient from the disobedient. With masterly
power Satan has worked to make null and void the fourth commandment, that the sign of God may be lost
sight of. The Christian world have trodden underfoot the Sabbath of the Lord, and observe a Sabbath
instituted by the enemy. But God has a people who are loyal to Him. His work is to be carried forward in
right lines. The people who bear His sign are to establish churches and institutions as memorials to Him.
These memorials, however humble in appearance, will constantly bear witness against the false Sabbath
instituted by Satan, and in favor of the Sabbath instituted by the Lord in Eden, when the morning stars sang
together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” - Testimonies, Volume VII, P. 105.
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