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MODERN ROMANS: A WARNING FOR AMERICA, BRITAIN AND ISRAEL


Chapter 6


God’s Second Test Commandment - Keeping the Sabbath Holy


In Leviticus 26, after warning Israelites not to make images or idols, God told them in verse 2, “2 You shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.”

There is no disagreement among scholars that the Sabbath refers to the time between Friday sunset to Saturday sunset every week. So before specifying the blessings for obedience to His commandments, statutes and judgments, God told His worshippers not to use idols or images to worship Him, and then to keep His Sabbaths holy. He emphasized these two commandments that test whether a person will obey God or not. That’s why they are known as the test commandments which people break most often. 

The Sabbath commandment is so important that God incorporated it as the fourth of the Ten Commandments, and also the longest of the Ten Commandments. It states, Exodus 20: “ 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt you labour, and do all your work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: 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.”

Moses paraphrased the fourth commandment in Deuteronomy 5:14-15, adding these words, “…that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you. 15 And remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord your God brought you out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.”

Moses emphasized that Israelites were liberated from slavery in Egypt where they slaved all seven days of the week. That’s why it was important that they give their servants a rest on the Sabbath day. He also reminded them that they were delivered from slavery, and Sabbath was commanded also as a reminder of that deliverance. A Christian is a slave to sin and God delivers him or her from the slavery of sin. That’s why the Sabbath command is to be kept by the Christian. 

God Almighty also elaborated on the Sabbath commandment in Exodus 31:12-17, “12 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,13 Speak also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the Lord that  sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever does any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”

God says that the Sabbath is a sign between Him and the people who worship Him. By keeping the Sabbath Christians and Israelites acknowledge that it is the Creator God who sanctifies them, meaning sets them apart from others as holy. This implies that those who don’t keep the Sabbath holy are not sanctified by God as His holy people. 

God also prescribes the death penalty for not keeping His Sabbath holy.  

Glib Church pastors in America and Britain and mainstream Christianity everywhere claim that the Sabbath was only for ancient Israel and their descendants forever. By that they mean only the Jews. Therefore, the Churches in Britain and America, or anywhere else in the world do not have to keep the Sabbath. Here is one such comment: “The Sabbath was only for the nation of Israel. Neither Gentiles nor the Church have any part of it.”

Is the Sabbath really only for ancient Israel? All these Church pastors say they keep the Ten Commandments, but they don’t, because the Sabbath is the fourth of the Ten Commandments. These are the only commandments God spoke. They are immutable. No one has the right to change them. The Catholic Church has changed them under its own authority. But God has not given any human or angel or Church organization the authority to change His commandments.

The Catholic Church has changed only the two test commandments. In its catechism, it has removed the second commandment about not making idols or images entirely because this false Church is steeped in idols and worshipping relics. Secondly, it has changed the fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath holy to ‘remember to keep the Lord’s day [meaning Sunday, the ancient pagan day of sun worship] holy because it claims that Jesus Christ was resurrected on Sunday. But that is a lie. Jesus Christ was three days and three nights in the grave and was resurrected on Saturday late afternoon. For proof, please read United Church of God (UCG) booklet titled “Fundamental Beliefs of the United Church of God” available free at www.ucg.org.

Sunday means the day of the sun. To gain more adherents, the Catholic Church adopted many pagan festivals but gave them false, concocted Christian significance. Thus pagans became Christians in name only but continued to celebrate all their pagan festivals, exactly as they always worshipped them. Over centuries, the false Church was able to forcibly impose its ways on the rest of Christianity. The Protestant Churches because of their anti-Jewish bias just followed along though they know fully well nowhere does the Bible command to worship on Sunday, but rather on the Sabbath day.

Now consider, why God began the fourth commandment by asking the ancient Israelites to REMEMBER the Sabbath day. The reason is that because of slavery in Egypt where they were forced to work all seven days of the week, they had forgotten which day was the Sabbath day. They were asked to remember the Sabbath day, because the Sabbath command was originally given to humanity at the very beginning of creation. Hence it has always been binding on all of humanity and not only on ancient Israel and their descendants.

Here is the creation account in Genesis 2:2-3, “2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

God blessed and sanctified the seventh or Sabbath day and rested as an example for mankind. Sanctified means to set apart as holy. Only the Sabbath day was set apart as holy and a day of rest. Thats precisely how the Sabbath command is worded. God the Creator created everything in 6 days and sanctified the Sabbath day. That’s why ancient Israel was commanded to REMEMBER the Sabbath day to keep it holy by not doing any work. The Sabbath day points to the God that is worshipped on that day, the God Who created everything. Keeping the Sabbath holy is a sign between God and His people, that the God Who created everything is the one they worship.

This commandment condemns the worship of all Mainstream Christianity the world over.  They are not God’s holy people because they do not have the sign that identifies God’s holy people.

If the Sabbath command was binding on ancient Israel forever as Church pastors in America and British Commonwealth nations claim that it is binding only on the Jews, then it is still binding on America, British Commonwealth nations and the democracies of Europe who are all descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel. For this purpose, I recommend that every American and Briton should read the UCG booklets “The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy” and “Sunset to Sunset: God’s Sabbath Rest” available free at the UCG web site www.ucg.org. 

You can find similar information in my book “Jews Behold Your God.” Available free at my web site www.ChurchofGodMessage.com. These prove that America and British Commonwealth nations are the descendants of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim.

Thus, even per the command to ancient Israel and the covenant our ancestors made with the Creator God, Americans, Britons, the French, Scandinavians, and those of Switzerland, Ireland and the Benelux countries, and ALL CHRISTIANS are obligated to keep the Sabbath forever.

Have you wondered why America and British Commonwealth nations do not recognize themselves as Israelites. They believe they are Gentiles, whereas the Jews are recognized as Israelites. God had said in Exodus 31:16-17,”16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever:”

The Sabbaths were a sign that identified Israelites as God’s people. The Jews still keep the Sabbaths, though in name only. But they are still recognized as God’s people. Because America and Britain do not keep the Sabbaths holy, they lost the only sign that identified them as God’s people. That’s why they were numbered among the Lost Ten Tribes. That’s how important the Sabbath is in identifying God’s true Church and His people.

There are more reasons why true Christians are required to keep the Sabbath holy and worshipping on Sunday is a sin.

Consider this. We agree that all descendants of ancient Israel, that is the Jews, Americans, Britons, French, Scandinavians and those of Switzerland, Ireland and the Benelux countries are obligated to keep the Sabbath as Christians. But Christianity includes people of many other nations. Does God then have two kinds of Christians: those descended from ancient Israel, and those from all other nations. Does that mean that those descended from ancient Israel are required to worship on the Sabbath day. If they worship on Sunday then they are sinning. On the other hand, all other Christians would be required to worship on Sunday and if they worship on the Sabbath day they would be sinning. How utterly ridiculous is that. 

We have to agree that the same salvation is available to the Israelites as well as Gentiles for Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, the gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes: to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

As Christians, we are all one in Christ as stated in Galatians 3:26-29, “26 For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

True Christianity, meaning God’s Church is not a house divided. Christians of Israelite or non-Israelite stock are required the keep the same laws, and the Law says to remember to keep the Sabbath holy. 

Another very important reason why all Christians are bound to keep the Sabbath holy is that the Church is called spiritual Israel. As verse 29 indicated, “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Which of Abraham’s seed received the promises. Israel of course. If Christians are heirs according to the promise, they are also obligated to do what Israel is required to do to inherit the promises, which is obeying the entire Law, including keeping the Sabbath holy.

Ephesians 2:5-21, “11 Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us…18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together grows into an holy temple in the Lord:”

As Paul says, Gentile Christians before conversion were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise. Paul stresses ‘Gentiles were strangers from the COVENANTS of promise.” The NEW COVENANT promises eternal life for obedience to God’s laws. And Sabbath-keeping is part of the law. If a Gentile Christian breaks his part in the covenant, which is obedience to God, and worships on Sunday instead of the Sabbath day, He or she cannot inherit the promises.

Gentiles JOIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL; the ISRAELITES DON’T JOIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE GENTILES. Whoever, lived in ISRAEL WAS OBLIGATED TO OBEY THE LAW. Hence GENTILES CHRISTIANS ARE OBLIGATED TO KEEP THE SABBATH AND THE HOLY DAYS. In Mainstream Christianity, Israel has joined the Commonwealth of the Gentiles by worshipping on SUNDAY.

Here is God’s view on America and British Commonwealth nations and Israel keeping the Sabbaths. 

Jeremiah 17:27, “27 But IF YOU WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO ME TO HALLOW THE SABBATH DAY, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” 

Ezekiel 20:23-24, “23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; 24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had POLLUTED MY SABBATHS, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.”

Nehemiah explained the reason why the Jews went into captivity to the Babylonians in Nehemiah 13:15-18, “15 In those days saw I [meaning Nehemiah] in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals…17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, WHAT EVIL THING IS THIS THAT YOU DO, AND PROFANE THE SABBATH DAY? 18 DID NOT OUR FATHERS THUS, AND DID NOT OUR GOD BRING ALL THIS EVIL UPON THIS CITY? YET YOU BRING MORE WRATH UPON ISRAEL BY PROFANING THE SABBATH.”

Polluting the Sabbaths was a direct cause of slavery for ancient Israel. It will also be a cause of slavery for modern Israel and Judah as prophesied by Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

It is obvious for everyone to see that Israel’s record in keeping the two test commandments is abysmal. Ever since the days the ten tribes of Israel separated from the other two tribes of Judah and Benjamin known as the House of Judah or Jews, and set up their own Kingdom known as the House of Israel after the death of Solomon and their king Jeroboam led Israel away from worshipping God the way God described He should be worshipped, by setting up two golden calfs and changing the day of worship from the Sabbath to Sunday, the ancestors of the British and American peoples have never kept the Sabbath holy. And they worshipped idols in the form of golden calves as their gods. Our people have thus violated God’s two test commandments for the past more than 2,940 years.

The Jews in Israel keep the Sabbath by observing it as a holiday so that they don’t have to work, but they certainly don’t keep it holy as God commands it to be kept. Most don’t even go to the Synagogue to worship. And they certainly don’t know the God they worship because they don’t recognize Jesus Christ as the God of their scriptures, the Old Testament. They have added rituals such as the Hanukkah Bush (much like the Christmas Tree of Christianity) that are idolatry. 

After withholding them for 2,520 years as punishment, God has given our people the unconditionally promised blessings to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for more than 200 years beginning around 1801 A.D. He has fulfilled His obligation under His promises. But we have not fulfilled the terms of the Covenant our ancestors made in the days of Moses by obeying His Commandments, statutes and judgments.  Therefore, per the terms of the covenant, He will allow us to be defeated in war and sold into slavery.

As quoted earlier, here are God’s words specifying national slavery as punishment in Leviticus 26:27-39, “27 And if you will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; 28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 And you shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall you eat. 30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. 31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors. 32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. 33 AND I WILL SCATTER YOU AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND I WILL DRAW OUT A SWORD AFTER YOU: AND YOUR LAND SHALL BE DESOLATE, AND YOUR CITIES WASTE. 34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lies desolate, and you be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when you dwelt upon it. 36 And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursues. 37 And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursues: and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 And you shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.”

Besides violating the two test commandments, majority of the British and American people also violate virtually all the other 8 of the 10 commandments.




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