Tuesday, January 4, 2011

 Question 33 -Sabbath in the Tribulation?
Dear Reader, please take a moment to pray that God's His Holy Spirit be your only Guide as we continue this study. God's Holy Spirit accompanying us is the only way to be safe as we study. Thank you SO much. 
     Most of Christianity says Sabbath observance is not only unnecessary now, it is, "Legalism!" Many Ministers even say it's a SIN to observe the Sabbath, because to do so is to reject God's, "Grace." These same Ministers teach that Christians are to observe Sunday because it is the, "Lord's Day." They say God is pleased with Sunday observers, but disappointed, even angry with Sabbath observers. If the Reader is a Sunday observing Pastor, chances are you've taught this in one form or another.

Pre-Trib's View of Sabbath During the Tribulation
Pre-Trib Christians and Non-Pre-Trib Christians have opposite views of Sabbath observance during the Tribulation. Sunday observing Christians opposing the Pre-Trib view teach that Sunday will be observed right up until Jesus comes. Most Non-Pre-Trib Christians take no position as to what happens after the Second Coming. They give it little thought, and most probably assume that Sunday will be the, "Lord's Day" through the Tribulation, through the Millennium, and throughout eternity. Pre-Trib, however, teaches emphatically that Sunday is the Lord's Day during this, "Grace Dispensation" but at the Rapture, this will no longer be so. Pre-Trib says the Tribulation will be a time especially focusing on the Jews, and that all Jews converting to Christianity will be in charge of Christianity. Thus, according to Pre-Trib, Gentiles who also convert to Christianity after the Rapture will observe the Sabbath, Saturday, because God will require it during that time. Pre-Trib says this same Sabbath observance will continue all through the Millennial, because again, it will be the time for the Jews to receive their rewards to be the ruling nation of the world. Let's take a moment to look at Pre-Trib's view of the Sabbath during the Tribulation and documentation of what we present here.

Proof - Scofield Bible Footnotes
Following is the footnote under the story of Jesus and His Disciples picking and eating grain on the Sabbath:
  • "The Sabbath will again be observed during the Tribulation period (Mt.24:20-21) and the Kingdom Age (Isa.66:23)" (Scofield Study Bible Footnote under Matt.12:1).
Notice the Scofield Footnote sites Matt.24:20-21 as proof that the Sabbath will be observed during the Tribulation. All of Matthew 24 records Jesus advising His Disciples the night before He was crucified. Let's look at what He said concerning the Sabbath: "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath Day." Scofield Scholars say this is a Dispensational matter. Although Pre-Trib does not connect Antichrist directly to persecuting Sabbath observers during the Tribulation, they could, if they choose to, because Daniel prophesied  the following: "And he (Antichrist)...shall think to Change the Times and the Laws" (Dan.7:25). Pre-Trib does not use this prophecy to prove their view that the Sabbath will be kept during the Tribulation, but they could, and they should. Let's look at Bible proof that Pre-Trib should preach and teach that Antichrist's persecution will be directed focused on Sabbath Keepers:

Just before John gave his most comprehensive description of Antichrist and his activities he prophesied the following: "And the Dragon (Satan) was wroth with the Woman, and went to make war with the Remnant of her seed, who keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev.12:17). Immediately after prophesying about Satan's enragement towards God's people for obeying God's Law (including the Sabbath), John wrote chapter 13 and half of chapter 14 in which he described Antichrist, the Beast, and his Mark of the Beast. When John finished, he described again the reason Satan and Antichrist will be so enraged: "Here is the patience of the Saints; here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus" (Rev.14:12). Pre-Trib could use Daniel's and John's prophecies as proof of Sabbath observance during the Tribulation, and they do, somewhat indirectly, but we never hear this preached in their sermons. In case the Reader is one who says these "Commandments of God" are not the 10 Commandments, but rather some new Commandments assembled from the New Testament, if the Reader is a Pre-Trib believer, take a moment and look at what the Scofield Scholars say in the margin about the "Commandments" in the passage. If you don't have a Scofield Bible, the margin for both of the above passages says, "Law of Moses." 

Many times Isaiah addressed the, "Coming of the Lord." The Scofield Study Bible chapter heading says the following refers to the Tribulation just before the Lord comes, "Behold the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it wast, and turneth it upside down and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof" (Isa.24:1)."The Land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken it. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the World languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the Laws, Changed the Ordinance, and broken the Everlasting Covenant" (Isa.24:3-5). Scofield Scholars list the above as, "Isaiah's Little Apocalypse," meaning they consider this to be addressing the Great Tribulation just before the Second Coming. We could show much more Scriptures that Pre-Trib could use to prove that the Sabbath will be observed in the Tribulation, and more Scriptures that would show how Antichrist will aggressively persecute those observing the Sabbath. We underscored "could," because, Pre-Trib is strangely silent about their view about Sabbath observance during the Tribulation. This teaching is tucked quietly away in their Rapture Theory. Now let's get back to examine whether or not Sabbath observance is a sin now in this present "Grace Age."

A Sin to Obey God's Sabbath Commandment?
The vast majority of today's Christians claim it is wrong, some even a sin, to observe the Sabbath, so, let's take a closer look. We suggest that all of God's 10 Commandments are directly from God and ignoring them, annulling them, or changing them is completely against God's will. Jesus said, "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" (Matt.1:18)! We will read the rest of Christ's words here in a moment. Already we can Ponder a question. In light of what Jesus said here, can we really say it's a sin to obey all of God's Commandments?    

Oxymoron

Why do Ministers organize campaigns against those demanding the 10 Commandments be removed from Government buildings, then, if the subject of the 4th Commandment, the Sabbath, arises, suddenly they proclaim that those Commandments are, "done away with," and that we are, "Under Grace," and we no longer need to obey the Commandments? Two conflicting statements in the same sentence is called an, "OXYMORON!"

Challenge for Satan
Imagine the seemingly impossible task facing Satan when he decided to turn his evil deceits towards humans. His first challenge was in the Garden of Eden. God had said to Adam and Eve, "Don't eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil." Using the Serpent, Satan claimed that disobeying God brings great rewards. He told Eve she and Adam would become, "As Gods" if they disobeyed God. Satan's lie worked completely, so, from that time on, he has used it, and, sadly his disobedience lie is still working perfectly for him! "Disobedience," is his battle cry, and lying to us, telling us that God will reward us for disobedience still absolutely works for him! Everything God ever instructed His people to do, Satan has devised a method to persuade them to do the opposite, and using his masterful talent as a deceiver, he convinces them that God is pleased with their disobedience. God said, "Remember the Sabbath Day." Satan devised doctrines that say,"Forget The Sabbath!"

"Not a Jot or Tittle"
Knowing Satan would spread his lie that, after the Cross, the 10 Commandments would be annulled, Jesus prepared His people for Satan's grand deception. At the very beginning of His Ministry, Jesus said the following: "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets! I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill! For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one Jot or Tittle shall in NO Wise pass from the Law, till ALL be fulfilled. Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least Commandments, and shall TEACH men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven! But whosoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matt.5:17-19)! If the Reader is a Pastor, there's no doubt that you want to be among those who, "do and teach," God's Commandments rather than those who, "break the least, and teach men so." If the Reader is a Layman, no doubt you feel the same.

Satan's Challenge!
Imagine Satan's thoughts when Jesus made the above declaration in the Sermon on the Mount. Satan had his work cut out for him. His task - convince Christians to reverse Christ's Words!! Did he meet the challenge? The vast majority of Christians have no idea what happened. We hear in sermons today that it was Jesus and the Disciples that annulled and reversed the words of Jesus.

So, we have Christians defending the 10 Commandments on one hand, claiming we're being persecuted because we're not allowed to display the Commandments in Government Buildings, while at the same time, branding all Sabbath Observing Christian Churches as "CULTS!" Some anti Sabbath preachers declare that all Churches and persons observing the Sabbath are "Satanic Cults." Such Ministers get on the Radio and TV blasting the Sabbath as "Legalism" and "Fanaticism," while at the same time displaying the 10 Commandments in their own Churches!!

Does "Grace" really Mean "Disobedience"
Christian Ministers must make up their minds concerning God's Commandments? If obeying the Sabbath Commandment is an evil sin, let's not protest laws forbidding the 10 Commandments being displayed in Government Buildings, etc. Actually, our Ministers should preach to us about what John said: "And by this we do know that we know Him, if we Keep His Commandments! He that saith I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments is a LIAR, and the Truth is not in him" (1Jn.2:3-4)!!

The Great Tribulation
We've seen from Scripture that this is where the final test will come during the Tribulation. If Pre-Trib Ministers are telling us we must disregard the Sabbath now, but that God will re-instate the Sabbath after He, "Raptures" His people to Heaven, what if these Ministers are exactly right about God requiring Sabbath Observance during the Tribulation, but completely incorrect about God Rapturing His people to Heaven before the Tribulation, what then? Pre-Trib Scholars teach clearly that the Sabbath WILL be observed by God's People during the Tribulation, and they are correct, because there is clearly too much Bible evidence showing it is so! Can we take a chance on something this serious?  

Conclusion

Thank you SO much, Dear Reader, for spending this time with us. If the Reader is a Pastor, please consider what this will mean to your congregation. We hope we've not offended. Let's pray together that we will know God's will concerning the Sabbath. Of course keeping the Sabbath will not save us. But, Scripture repeats time and again that disobeying God's Commandments is open rebellion against God. Please take this matter to the Lord in Prayer!!He promised the Holy Spirit to guide us, if we ask!!

Your Brother in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr.

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Check Our Other Bogsites:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus

Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

 Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

 The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Websites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr
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