SDA Open Letter - Did God Instigate the Weekly Sabbath in Genesis 2:2-3

This is part 7 from my Letter to the SDA Leadership in Vanuatu.  

 

DID GOD INSTIGATE THE SABBATH OBERVANCE BACK IN GENESIS 2:2-3

Whenever I show evidence that the early patriarch did NOT receive the Sabbath commandment along with the rest of the Law before Moses, most SDA followers will point out quite strongly Genesis 2:3 as proof that God instigated the Sabbath right at the beginning of creation, or at least since the seventh day of creation.  This is one of your proof texts.  The point made is that in Genesis 2:2-3, God declared the Seventh day – “Holy.” 

Now SDAs and I both agree that Holy means sanctified or separate. So on that basis, God did make the Seventh day Holy.  I am not disputing that.  However, can it be claimed that this verse shows that every seventh day is holy and is every seventh day from this point a Sabbath day.

Ellen G White says in “The Great Hope” that the whole bible should be given to the people just as it reads (p20).  The same can be read in her famous book –“The Great Controversy” Chapter 32.   I totally agree with this statement, so let’s look at the full verse, just as it reads.

(2)  And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 

(3)  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.  Genesis 2:2-3 [ESV]

Now since we are on this verse and having just read the Ellen G White said we should read the whole bible just as it reads, let’s look at something here.  I want you to compare the King James Version with the Clear Word version.  The Clear Word was written for use by SDAs in home devotion settings. This translation is in Vanuatu.

KJV - 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. 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.

CW - Then on the seventh day of creation week, God stopped to enjoy what He had made and to rest in the beauty of it all. So He blessed the seventh day and set it apart as a day of spiritual refreshment and joy.

You will see that the SDA Clear Word version has added “Creation Week,” yet as shown previously, the [seven day] week had not been sanctioned in any calendar except the Jewish one.    And the Jews did not exist then (Hebrews did).  Secondly they have deleted a section and replaced it with something not in the original manuscripts.  But I want to know three things. 

1.       Why did the Clear Word change the reason for the sanctification of the seventh day, and in fact removed the reason?

2.       Does this make them guilty of altering scripture in direct violation of the commandment of God? (Deut 4:2; 12:32).  I can show you some more examples if you like. [actually I have - see below]

3.       Why did the authors of the Clear Word not follow Ellen G White’s instruction – read the bible just as it reads?  Instead they have elected to change the meaning of the verse.

Why have the SDAs allowed and officially sanctioned the alteration of the Word of God.  An act strictly forbidden by God.

 

 

God blessed the Seventh day and made it holy.  Now note that the reason is given – because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.  So my question is this: Did God start working on creation again on the Eighth day and rested again on the second seventh day (the 14^th day of the world?)  It never says this.  God completed creation on the seventh day and that ONE day was made holy.  Why does it not say that God made holy every seventh day?  Simply because he didn’t make this a pattern yet.  Instead it says on the seventh day he finished His work and on the seventh day he rested.  In fact three times he emphasised these points in these two verses. It’s like your special day – your birthday.  You were only born once (at least physically but I hope you are born again spiritually too) and so have one birthday, but every year you have a birthday.  Your original first birth day was extra special to your parents. 

If I ask exactly what Sabbath means, you will correctly tell me that it means rest.  It also means “to cease.”  (I will give you another meaning later). On the Seventh day of creation, God ceased creating.  Did Adam observe this rest?  The bible does not say, but given the fact that he was created 24 hours or less before, he did not need to be told to rest, because he had not yet started working in the first place! In fact, they never had to work in Eden.  They did so after the fall, and yet there is no verse in scripture where God ordered them to observe the Sabbath at this time either.

BONUS MATERIAL FOR ONLINE VIEWERS

I mentioned above a version of the bible that many readers would not have heard of before - The Clear Word.  When introduced it was called the Clear Word Bible and sold to SDAs for use outside the pulpit.  Therein lies the first warning sign - a bible that the SDA authorities promoted in their magazines, yet at the same time banned from use by Pastors in Sabbath services.  But to use for evangelism, Sabbath School or other events is ok.

I have noticed this version in the hands of SDA members in Vanuatu, however in fairness I will put here the following:

The Clear Word Bible is not produced, nor endorsed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but is the private enterprise of an individual.
The Adventist Church does not use the Clear Word edition, which includes passages from Ellen G. White’s writings, for its worship services and Bible studies around the world, but quotes from well known and well accepted Bible translations in the various languages. In the English language for example, the church uses the King James Version, the Revised Standard Version, the New American Bible, [sic] [recte New American Standard Bible] the New International Version, and others

— Australasian Conference Association Limited

 Wikipedia

First published in march 1994, it was then called the Clear Word Bible.  The publishers have now removed the word Bible.  The disclaimer that the General Conference published to claim it was a paraphrase only appeared in The Record, Oct 29. 1994, pg 10.  The dumping of the word Bible is shown in the Record Feb 4 1995, pg 6

So in 1995 they banned the sale of the "Clear Word Bible" and instead sold "The Clear Word."  What is the difference?  Not a lot - only the title.

It may be commendable for the Australian Conference to distance itself, but if you read here you will see that it appears in a Vanuatu article.  In fact, the use of the Clear Word pervades SDA material in much the same way that the Jehovah's Witnesses use their New World Translation (only at least SDAs acknowledge the more standard versions).  

I want to show you what else this Clear Word version of the bible has managed to change that show the dangers of trusting it as the reliable Word of God. I cite here Watchman Fellowship Inc as the source of the following comparisons and notes. (My comments are in brackets, and the differing coloured text (red=removed, orange=altered meaning, green=added)

Before you read on, read Proverbs 30:6, Deut 4:2, Deut 12:32, Rev 22:18-19

Exodus 5:5

KJV -And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

CW - You've created enough problems by making them rest every week on your Sabbath.

Note - The CW describes the rest as occurring every week on the Sabbath, whereas in reality Moses requested an isolated three day period in which the Israelites could worship God (see verse 3 in the KJV).

Leviticus 23:3

KJV - Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

CW - There has always been the weekly Sabbath.

Note - The CW replaces the biblical institution of the Sabbath with the statement that the Sabbath has always existed.

Deuteronomy 5:3

[Those of you who read the previous post regarding Deuteronomy 5:3, should know what the SDAs have done to this verse.  It seems that if there is a verse in Scripture that contradicts their doctrine, then simply change the verse to fit.  THAT IS BLATANT HERESY!]

KJJ  He did not make this covenant with our ancestors but with us, we who are here today, all of us living now.

CW “It wasn't only with our ancestors that He made a covenant, but with us and with all who are alive today.” Deut. 5:3

Acts 20:7

Remember this verse, used for my 1 Million vatu claim.  Well here see how they have adulterated this verse also. 

KJV -And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

CW - After sundown on Saturday night, the believers got together for a fellowship meal and to say good-by to Paul. That evening he spoke to them until midnight, after which he hoped to get a few hours sleep before leaving early Sunday morning.

Note - The CW calls this a Saturday night meeting, changes "break bread", a term used by the early church for communion, [compare with 1Cor 10:16 and Luke 24:35] to a fellowship meal and to say good-by to Paul. Such revision of Scripture completely changes the focus of this verse to fit Adventist theology. 

Also in the Jewish reckoning of Time, the morrow after the first day would that the second day which would be Sunday night or Monday morning not Sunday morning!  The translator has mixed time references badly.]

[A far better paraphrase that retains the truth of the original text would be

And at the start of the first day of the week, being Saturday night, the believers got together to partake in communion, Paul gave a sermon to them and was ready to depart the next day, being sometime after Sunday night.  He preached until midnight. ]

Colossians 2:16[-17]

This is another verse that causes SDAs some discomfort.  

KJV - Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath  days. [Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.]

CW - Don't let anyone control your life by giving you a set of ceremonial rules about what to eat, what to drink and what monthly festivals or special Sabbaths to keep. All these rules were given as a shadow of the reality to come and that reality is Jesus Christ.

Note - Colossians 2:16 is a very important verse in that it shows clearly that the Seventh-day Sabbath is only a shadow of Christ.  This verse should be studied in its context and also compared to its Old Testament parallel, Ezekiel 45:17 (above) When the terms  "festival (or equivalent), new moons and Sabbaths are used together in the Old Testament the word Sabbath always refers to the seventh-day Sabbath. Also, these terms are usually used in either ascending or descending sequence: festival (yearly) new moons (monthly) Sabbaths (weekly) or Sabbaths (weekly), new moons  (monthly), festivals (yearly).

 

Hebrews 4:9

KJV -There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

CW - So there still remains the offer of spiritual rest that God intends for each generation to have, of which the Sabbath is a symbol.

Note - The biblical manuscripts make no reference in this verse to spiritual rest or the Sabbath as a symbol. 

Revelation 1:10

KJV - I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.

CW - On Sabbath morning when I had gone to the rocky island shore to meditate and worship.

 As stated in an earlier post, the early Church fathers identified the Lord's day (kuriake hemera) as Sunday.  If it was the Sabbath, why did he not say so.

So the verses above are alterations to promote the Sabbath above what the Bible says.  But what about other SDA doctrines.  Again, if it doesn't fit doctrine, change the Bible.

Matthew 10:28

The SDAs do not believe in Hell.  The same as Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons.

KJV -And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

CW - Don't be afraid that you might be killed. They can kill your body but not your spirit or your loyalty to me. Now if there is some thing to be concerned about, it's that you don't lose your faith in God.

Note - The CW deletes the segment referring to eternal damnation, and instead alter the text to make it solely an exhortation to retain one's faith in God.

 I leave you with this as a warning that the Clear Word is NOT reliable and distorts the truth.  If it is not the truth, then what is it?  And if it is not the true Word of God then it is the Word of who?

"I do not think anyone should trust The Clear Word as a reliable translation of the Bible, or even as a useful paraphrase. It repeatedly distorts the teaching of the Bible. It removes significant content that is in the original Hebrew or Greek, and adds new ideas that are not found in the original texts. Verse after verse has been changed simply to support unusual Seventh-day Adventist doctrines, but these changes are not supported by reliable translations such as the KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, RSV, or NIV, or even by dynamic equivalence translations such as the New Living Translation or free paraphrases such as The Message. I was deeply troubled as I read various verses because it was clear that these verses were no longer the words of God only, but the words of God mixed in with many words of man, and ordinary readers of The Clear Word will not be able to tell the difference."

Wayne Grudem, Ph.D.
Research Professor of Bible and Theology
Phoenix Seminary, Phoenix, AZ

And the final word from an SDA man himself who (Praise the Lord) shows sound discernment.

I am sure that the author does not believe that the words of Revelation 22:18 "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book." apply to this version. But since it is called a Bible some might draw the opposite conclusions. He should have made it far clearer on the cover and in the formatting that this is not another Bible but a personal commentary on Scripture. I hope that the author would withdraw or at the very least drastically revise this book. 

Yours for the uplifting of God's true Word, 
J. David Newman 
Editor Ministry [international magazine for SDA Pastors]

Futher information regarding the Clear Word Bible available at CARM and also Watchman Fellowship (the latter is where I took most of the above verses and their comments from)