Midnigh ght? ? 6 PM? ? Sunse set? ? Sunrise? se? Noon? ? 1
A Moment of Gratitude 1) Thank you to Brother Garrick for the privilege to present this topic at his Sabbath gathering. 2) Thank you to Timothy Astleford for digging into his Bible to see if indeed this is Biblical truth and for all the wonderful studies he has written. 3) And, a thank you to whoever it was (an Adventist somewhere) that actually did the initial homework to uncover this truth from the error of tradition. 2
History On How This Teaching Came To Us This study did not originate with us. 1. We received the DVD study from a friend Feb 2010. 2. This original study must have been done by an 3. Adventist, because the presentation began with a statement from Testimonies, Vol 1, p. 116. 1T 116 is a small part of a large vision given to a. Ellen G White found in 1T pgs 113-120. This short portion is considered as her 2 nd Sabbath b. Vision, and the LAST Sabbath vision she had. Date of the vision: Nov 20, 1855. c. 3
How Is Ellen G White Involved In This Study? Many Adventist’s believe that Ellen G White gave us the truth on the commencement of the day – as sunset. (While I had not really thought about it seriously, when this idea was presented to me, I sort of thought that likely was the truth.) Right after their August 30 th wedding in 1846, James & Ellen White learned of the Sabbath truth in the early fall, through the teachings of Captain Joseph Bates. From the fall of 1846 to Nov 1855, the early pioneers observed the Sabbath from 6 PM Friday evening to 6 PM Saturday evening. At a Sabbath Conference on Nov 17, 1855, Captain Joseph Bates read a study paper (for the divine Sabbath service) prepared by J N Andrews showing that Andrews believed the Sabbath did not begin at 6 PM on Friday, but rather at sunset. Of the very few ministers that were gathered together for this Sabbath Conference, the decision was made to take a vote on the matter immediately after the reading of the study. 4
How Is Ellen G White Involved In This Study? Result : A majority vote spoke to change the commencement of the Sabbath from 6 PM on Friday to sunset on Friday, and to implement this immediately. The Sabbath was closed that day at sunset rather than 6 PM. Problem : Two votes did not agree … Captain Joseph Bates and Ellen G White! Concern : Most were not worried about what Captain Bates thought, but they were troubled by Mrs White’s negative vote. Result : At the end of the conference a few days later Mrs White was given a very lengthy vision – at which time she took the opportunity to ask her attending angel about the supposed confusion over the commencement of the Sabbath. (This particular portion of her 2 nd Sabbath vision is now found in 1 T 116.) That very day, in 1855, the vision was written out for everyone to read – and printed in the Advent Review & Sabbath Herald in the next issue, for distribution to all their flock scattered hither and yon. Answer : The angel gave a very clear answer to Mrs White’s question! However, the male pioneers in attendance at that conference did NOT pay attention to the content carefully, nor did they read in context. They simply made some very hasty assumptions, which are still being taught today. 5
What Next? Where Do We Begin? According to the recommendation of Ellen White, 1. and the mandate of this Bible study class, our study on this topic will begin with the Bible. However, it is understandable that with many 2. Adventists a ‘word from Ellen White’ is very dear. We will consider her 2 nd Sabbath vision very 3. briefly today. Once the evidence is presented from the 4. Scriptures, we can delve into the Pioneer study in greater detail at a later time. 6
Ellen G White’s 2 nd Sabbath Vision (1855) Second Sabbath Vision Given on Nov 20, 1855 : (1 Testimonies, p. 116.) I saw that it is even so: "From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath." Said the angel: "Take the word of God, read it, understand, and ye cannot err. Read carefully, and ye shall there find what even is, and when it is.” I asked the angel if the frown of God had been upon His people for commencing the Sabbath as they had. I was directed back to the first rise of the Sabbath, and followed the people of God up to this time, but did not see that the Lord was displeased, or frowned upon them. I inquired why it had been thus, that at this late day we must change the time of commencing the Sabbath. Said the angel: "Ye shall understand, but not yet, not yet." Said the angel: "If light come, and that light is set aside or rejected, then comes condemnation and the frown of God; but before the light comes, there is no sin, for there is no light for them to reject." I saw that it was in the minds of some that the Lord had shown that the Sabbath commenced at six o'clock, when I had only seen that it commenced at "even," and it was inferred that even was at six. I saw that the servants of God must draw together, press together. 7
Questions To Consider Regarding Ellen White’s 2 nd Sabbath Vision Who said these words? 1. I saw that it is even so: "From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath." What was the homework given by the angel? 2. Said the angel: "Take the word of God, read it, understand, and ye cannot err. Read carefully, and ye shall there find what even is, and when it is. (The words “what” and “when” are italicized in 1T116.) Did Ellen White understand that homework? 3. No she didn’t! In fact the whole issue of “new light on the Sabbath commencement time” troubled her. It became an intense paradigm shift that she could not understand! Ellen White inquired further of the angel about why they had to 4. make such a huge change in this area. Next, the angel speaks: Said the angel: "Ye shall understand, but not yet, not yet." Said the angel: "If light come, and that light is set aside or rejected, then comes condemnation and the frown of God; but before the light comes, there is no sin, for there is no light for them to reject." 8
How Is Ellen White Involved In This Study? In conclusion : Ellen White responded … I saw that 5. it was in the minds of some [such as Captain Bates] that the Lord had shown that the Sabbath commenced at six o'clock, when I had only seen that it commenced at "even," and it was inferred [by Captain Bates & Ellen White] that even was at six. Further conclusion: But, the male pioneers that 6. voted “yes” to the sunset change responded: “Yes! There we have it! Ellen White has now had a vision that confirms sunset is the commencement for the Sabbath, so everything is now settled!” [This is my paraphrase.] 9
How Are You Involved In This Study? 7. Your homework: Read this vision very, very carefully in context. a. Where is the issue of “sunset” addressed by the angel? b. Where does the angel and Ellen White confirm that c. “sunset” is the new truth? Did the angel give any clues as to the Biblical truth of the d. matter? (Read carefully!) Did the pioneers (including Ellen White) actually take the e. time to complete the homework? If not, why not? If they did complete the homework, where can their studies be located? What is your final assessment after reading this vision in f. context, paying special attention to the content as well? DID YOU KNOW? This is the very vision Adventism has g. used since Nov 20, 1855 to confirm that Friday sunset is the commencement of the Sabbath! 10
The Challenge Of The Paradigm Shift For The Pioneers Definition of Paradigm Shift: A fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions . In other words: Your view point, or your perspective, towards a particular thing completely changes in a flash of time. This is exactly what happened to our pioneers and Ellen White – more than once! o 1 st Sabbath paradigm shift: 1846 when they discovered that Sunday was not the Biblical Sabbath, but it was Saturday. o 2 nd Sabbath paradigm shift: 1855 when they were challenged that 6 PM was not the commencement of the Biblical Sabbath. o There was at least one other Sabbath paradigm shift that they should have made. Do you know what it was? 11
The Challenge Of The Paradigm Shift For Us Today This study may challenge you, just as we were challenged in 2010. 1. Some will accept the Paradigm Shift more easily than others. 2. The more you understand through Scripture, the easier it is to 3. understand the shift that is forthcoming. Understanding must be supported with: 4. A complete Biblical study from cover to cover that includes a a. solid witness in the life of our Messiah. A complete study of secular history to determine how b. “sunset” was ever introduced into the tribe of Judah. o We must also understand that not all traditions of the Jews are Biblical truths. For Adventists: A complete study of pioneer history to c. understand why “sunset” was accepted rather than following the angel’s homework. We must learn to challenge every belief that we hold dear, to see 5. if indeed it can be Biblically supported. 12
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