Effective Approach to the Sabbath Question

The Sabbath truth is the object of constant controversy. Many observe Sunday re­ligiously and are sincere in their observ­ance. It is therefore hard to approach the subject in some localities and hold the interest of the people, as they feel they already have something better than we can offer to them.

In dealing with this problem, I have, for a number of years, made the approach herewith described, presenting the third angel's message as the last warning message to the world and as embodying the Sabbath truth. Not until this message was to be proclaimed to the world in the last-day reformation was the Sabbath made an issue. In fact, it is this third angel's mes­sage that makes us a people separate from the rest of the world. It is therefore only reason­able to believe that this message will continue to do its work and will call out those who have not yet heard it, until the task is finished.

To present the third angel's message and make it intelligible, we must identify the com­posite beast of Revelation 13 and all its parts and acts. We must identify also the two-horned beast and show its acts and relationship to the first beast. The course of procedure

I use is to announce my subjects somewhat as follows:

 I. Sunday Night. "The Symbolic Beast of Revelation 13. Who Is He?"

In publicizing this subject I use a picture of the beast, 3% x 4 inches, and a small picture 3 x 13A inches of the four beasts of Daniel 7. Under the latter I put the words "The March of Time." In my sermon that night I identify the beast of Revelation 13 by means of Daniel 7, for the beasts of Daniel 7 are the same as the beast with the seven heads and ten horns of Revelation 13, except that each part is separate. "The things revealed to Daniel were afterward complemented by the revelation made to John on the isle of Patmos."—"Testinionies to Minis­ters," p. 154. I present the subjects by the con­tinued use of the accompanying chart, asking the audience to note the duration of each kingdom.

By the use of the new prophetic charts printed by the Review and Herald, more emphasis and greater clarity can be placed on the time periods.

2. Tuesday Night. "Five Words That Are Astounding the World."

The five words are "his deadly wound was healed." Rev. 13 :3. In the sermon that night

I compare the little horn of Daniel 7 with the beast of Revelation 13, showing the duration of this first beast to have been 1260 years, at the end of which time it received a wound; also making plain the progress that has been made in healing the wound.

3. Wednesday Night. "The Beast—The Dragon—The Woman."

The sermon this night is on Revelation 13 :2 : "The dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." I introduce the dragon through Revelation 12 and Genesis 3:1-15 and show the transformation of the pagan religion into the papal religion, the Levitical system into the Christian system, and the complete sur­render of the seat, power, and authority of pagan Rome to papal Rome.

4. Thursday Night. "The Symbolic Two-Horned Beast of Revelation 13. Who Is He?"

In this sermon I show who the two-horned beast is and his relationship to the first beast—that he appeared at the end of the 42-month period at the time the first beast received his deadly wound and that the two-horned beast reaches world power by the time the wound of the first beast is healed. (Rev. 13:11, 12.)

5. Friday Night. "The Seven Last Plagues."

I show that the plagues fall at the time of the close of probation, the close of the work of Christ as high priest, and at the time for Him to take the kingdom (Dan. 12:1 and Rev. 15 :5-8) ; and that the plagues will fall upon those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark.

6. Sunday Night. "666: The Mystery Number of the Bible Explained."

I here show that all the power and authority of the Papacy centers in one man. (Rev. 13: 18.) Since this man possesses all the power in his organization, he has taken advantage of that power and has led many thousands to believe he has the authority to set aside Scripture com­niands and become the author of a different sal­vation, thus becoming another God. He set aside the ordinance of baptism. He undertook to change the law of God and instituted a false Sabbath, thus making his own mark or seal.

7. Tuesday Night. "The Seal of God And the Mark of the Beast."

This is the first time in the series that I pre­sent the Sabbath. I first show it to be the seal of God; then I present Sunday as the mark of the beast. To close, I compare the Papacy and all its changed ordinances with the true God and the ordinances of the gospel. Then I make my appeal, "Which God do you serve?"

8. Wednesday Night. "God's Last Call."

In this sermon I show how all through the ages God has called His people to come out and be separate from the world. First call,  Genesis 7 :1. Second call, Genesis 12:1-4.  Third call, Exodus 3:10. Fourth call, Mark 8:34. The call of the Reformation and other calls. Last call, Revelation 18 :4.

9. Thursday Night. "The Song of Moses And the Lamb." Rev. 15:1-3.

We here find that there are those who will be victorious over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name. In the darkest hour of the history of the world, when all the rest of world will seek for an excuse to show why they cannot be obedient to God, there will be those who stand victorious and obedient.

10. Friday Night. "Pilate—Or What Would You Have Done?"

I show in this sermon how the test will come to every person, proving whether he will wor­ship God the Creator or the one who claims to be God. (Read "The Desire of Ages," chap­ter 77.)

11. Sunday Night. "The Jury Trial on the Sabbath," or "Is Mr. X Guilty?"

I find it important to read Revelation13 :1-3 and to review the chart each evening during the first seven nights, calling attention to the char­acter and organization of the beast with seven heads and ten horns, for there may be someone in the congregation who was not present at the beginning of the series. Since the study of these prophecies is deep for most hearers, it is im­portant to review them again and again, so that the people will clearly understand them by the time we reach the Sabbath truth.

I begin this series at the end of the third or fourth week, depending on the length of the effort. From the first night of the series I have a packed house, and the people come every night, many taking their stand for the Sabbath before it is presented. By approaching the Sab­bath in this manner I remove prejudice against the true Sabbath of God and overthrow every imaginary support of the false Sabbath, or Sun­day. The third angel's message convinces and convicts. This has proved to be a successful series in my meetings.

The outlines for this series may be obtained from the author of the article by writing him at Box 146, Glendale, California---Editor.