VOL UME 4 FIRST QUARTER, 1994 N UMBER 1 ADVENTIST PIONEER LIBRARY

"We have nothing tofearfor the future, except as we shallforget the way the Lordhas led us, andHis teaching in ourpast history. " LS 196

The Sabbath andthe Advent Experience

uring the formative years of the Sabbatarian [Bates declared,] "...Thatthere will yet be Adventists the Sabbath was integrated into the a mighty struggle about the restoring and keep­ Advent experience through three closely re­ ing the seventh day Sabbath,thatwill test every lated themes: (I) The restoration ofall biblical soul that enters the gates ofthe city, cannot be principles before the ; (2) the disputed. Itis evident the Devil is making war sanctuary theology; (3) the third angel's mes­ on all such. See Rev. 12:17." [See also Acts sage. 3:20,21; Isaiah 58:12; and Matthew 5:19.] Both James and E. G. White endorsed the 1. The Restoration Theme. restoration theme butplaced it in the context of The first ones to associate the Sabbath with a preparatory workto escape God's final wrath. the Advent experience were Preble and Bates. Later the theme was integrated into the third In 1846 Bates, in addressing himselfto Adven­ angel's message through the Elijah motif. tists, pointed to the necessity ofthe restoration ofthe Sabbath before the Second Advent. He 2. The Sanctuary Theology. said: "I understand that the seventh day Sab­ The sanctuary theology of Edson, E. G. bath is not the leastone, among ALL the things White, and Crosier facilitated the acceptance of that are to be restored before the second advent the Sabbath doctrine and the third angel's mes­ of Jesus Christ, seeing that the Imperial and sage. . .. It was felt that Rev. 11:19 was an Papal power of Rome, since the days of the indication that the heavenly sanctuary, like the Apostles have changedthe seventhday Sabbath earthly sanctuary, contained an ark with the to the first day ofthe week!" Decalogue in the most holy place. continued on page two P. G. Damsteegt, Foundations ofthe Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission, W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1977, excerpts from pp. 138-142. *Usedby permission,

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE: RACHEL OAKES PRESTON, the Seventh Day Baptist woman whom God used to direct attention to the Bible Sabbath. PAGE 2 1st Quarter, 1994 LEST WE FORGET

TIlE ITIIIQD ANGEL'S MESSAGE I continuedfrom page one

his typology provided an argument for ence regarding the typological implications of the perpetuityof'theDecalogue. In 1849 Ezek. 9 for the time just before Christ's return. . . .[E. G. White] revealed that through Bates related the activities ofEzek. 9:2-4, pic­ the change in Jesus' high-priestly minis­ • turing a man,clothedin linenwitha writingcase Ttry the attention of God's people had in his hand who was commanded to go through beendirectedto the mostholyplace,resulting in God's the city of Jerusalem to put a mark upon the a deeper understanding ofthe relevance ofthe foreheads ofthe righteous, to those ofthe seal­ Decalogue. Becauseofthis additional light, she ingangelofRev.7:2, In another OldTestament said thattheywere "beingtested on the Sabbath Sabbath- reference, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law question"; in fact, it was not until after the among my disciples" (Is. 8:16) he saw a proph­ Disappointment that the Sabbath became a test ecy ofthe sealingmessagewith implications for for God's people. Thus the Sabbath doctrine the remnant describedin Rev. 12:17,who "keep Observing was incorporated into the sanctuary theology the commandments ofGod, and have the.testi­ and, beinga test,it achievedmaj or importancein mony ofJesus Christ. ..." the emerging theology ofmission. people The logical consequence ofinterpreting the Sabbath as "the seal ofthe living God" was to 3. The Third Angel's Message. call the third angel's message, with its emphasis The special message affirming the validity would be on the commandments ofGod (Rev. 14:12),the ofthe Seventh Month movement and proclaim­ sealing message. Although Bates had referred ing the restoration ofthe Sabbathas a test, in the to a relationbetweenRev. 7:2 andRev. 14:6-12, context of the imminent Second Advent and sealed with it was E. G. White who used the term "present, God's wrath, was the message of the third sealing truth" in the contextofan exposition on angel. ... the third angel's message. In more explicit During these formative years the relation­ the seal of terms J. White expressed himself about "the ship between the sanctuary theology and the sealing, separating message-the cutting mes­ third angel's message could be described as sage ofthe 3rd angel ofRev. 14 chapter. This follows: Both had their roots in the Advent the living third angel bears, in its flight, the sealing mark, movement and affirmed the validity ofthe Sev­ the Sabbath, to the saints, while it reaps the enth Month movement and the Decalogue. The awful doom ofthose who receive the opposite sanctuary theology, however, drew attention to God for mark,-the first day ofthe week." The sealing the significance ofthe Decalogue in the context message, being equated with "present truth," ofRev. II:19, while the third angel's message was a sign ofthe times indicatingthatthe believ­ pointed the importance ofthe commandments to protection ers were living in the "sealing time" which was of God in the setting of Rev. 14:12. It was to last until the end ofChrist's sanctuary minis­ especially the preparatory function ofthe sanc­ try whenGod's Sabbath-observingpeoplewould tuary theology for the acceptance ofthe Sabbath during the be sealed with the seal of the living God for that brought about a close association between protection againstthe "burningwrath ofGod, in Christ's ministry and the third angel's the sevenlastplagues." Atthe completionofthe message.... seven last sealing all the sins ofthe believers were consid­ ered to have been blotted out. The Sealing Message. In January 1849, E. G. White identified the plagues. Summary. I Sabbath with the "seal ofthe living God" (Rev. Initially the theological arguments used in 7:2) and Bates explained that this interpretation support ofSabbath observance were somewhat was based on identifying the Sabbath as a sign similarto those employed by Seventh Day Bap­ (Ex. 31: 13, 17) with a seal. ... • tists. . .. Soon, however, these Sabbatarian In thecontextofthesealing angel ofRev. 7:2 Bates further developed J. White's 1847 refer- concluded on page seven LEST WE PAGE 3 1111 " 1111111

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by 9. d1!l. qJubte Shing for the truth on all subjects the Sabbath was given as a sign forever, and connected with Christ's coming, I a perpetual covenant . . . , how can it be W would present a few thoughts on abolished while there is one Israelite re­ the Sabbath.... maining to claim the promise? You have In speaking of the Sabbath he [Wm. evidently noticed, that all the difficulties on Miller] says, "Its being contained in the ten the Sabbath question among Christianshave commands, written by the finger ofGod, on arisen from the foolish, judaizing notion, both tables of the testimony, graven on that Israel means only the literal Jew. But stone, to be a sign forever, and a perpetual when we understand Israel to mean the covenant, proves, in my opinion, beyond people of God, its difficulties...all vanish the shadow ofa doubt, that it is as binding at once.... The moral law was never given upon the Christian church as upon the Jew­ to the Jews as a people exclusively, but ish, and in the same manner, and for the they were for a season the keepers ofit in same reason." Life and views, p. 157.... charge. And through them the law, oracles, Again, he says, p. 160, in speaking of the and testimony have been handed down to Sabbath as a sign, "It is a sign because God us.... has given it to us expresslyfor the purpose Then, says the objector, we are under .... " "to be a sign between me andthem, " the same obligation to keep the sabbaths of i.e., between God and the children ofIsrael weeks, months, and years, as the Jews were. .... Another question will evidently arise: No, sir; you will observe that these were not Who are the included in the children ofIs­ decalogue; they rael? Ianswer, Jesus Christ brought in a new covenant which were attach­ while the first continued the sign of the Sabbath, and prepared ments, added by covenant was anotherpeople,by writinghis law upontheirhearts. reason of trans- standing they gression, until were the children ofJacob, descendants of the seed should come, to whom the promise the twelve tribes; but that covenant they of one eternal day or Sabbath ofrest, was broke. See Lev. 26:2,15; also Deut. 31:10­ made. "Therefore there remaineth a keep­ 16. This covenantwas broken as Moses had ing ofSabbath to the people ofGod." Only foretoId. ThenJesus Christbroughtin anew one kind ofSabbath was given to Adam,and covenant which continued the sign of the one only remains for us.... All the Jewish Sabbath, and prepared another people, by sabbaths did cease, whenChrist nailedthem writing his law upon their hearts. These to his cross. (see Col. 2:14-17.) now are the true Israel; for the changing of ...There is a clear distinction between the subjects never did, nor ever can, change the creation Sabbath and the ceremonial. the moral law of God. Therefore Paul ar­ The one is perpetual; the others were merely gues the circumcision ofthe heart, and says shadows ofthe good to come, and are lim- that "They are not all Israel which are of ited in Christ. . . . . Israel, neither because they are the seed of Ifwe keep the first day as "a sign," I do Abraham, are they all children; but, in Israel not see how we can have our thousand shall thy seed be called; i. e., they which are years' rest in the new earth, till the eighth the children of the flesh, these are not the thousand years, as the first day wouldbe the children of God; but the children of the eighth, reckoning in successive order from promise are counted for the seed." Now if creation. the children ofGod are the true Israel, and if continued on page six

11 '1 11111 PAGE 4 1st Quarter, 1994 LEST WE FORGET n An Undaunted s Qachel Oakes Preston 1809-1868

t a time when the in turn, wrote an article on the Sabbath • women's liberty [See page 3, this issue.], entitled The movement was at least Hope ofIsrael? which influenced a century in the future. to begin keeping the Rachel it required a woman of Sabbath. L... A..1 firm conviction to be Who was this undaunted woman willing to speak her mind to the visit­ whom God used to begin such a chain ing minister. Rachel Oakes was just ofevents? RachelDelight Harris was Oakes such a woman. Elder Frederick born in Vernon, Vermont, in 1809. Wheeler had made a statement which She was just seventeen when con­ obviously contradicted his practice. verted, and soon afterwards became a was used Widow Oakes had found it to be Methodist. Most likely she was very extremely difficult to remain seated young when she married Amory Oakes during that communion service in the and moved with him to Verona, New small advent chapel at Washington, York. In Verona she began studying byGod to New Hampshire, when Elder Wheeler about the Bible Sabbath. In spite of had admonished his advent congrega­ efforts to the contrary by the Methodist tion to keep all the Ten Command­ minister and her husband, she became bring the ments. Thinking it best not to interrupt an observer ofthe Bible Sabbath and the service, she waited for a more joined the Seventh Day Baptist appropriate opportunity. But when it Church, thus revealing her independent came, she told him, "I wanted to tell thinking and principled action. Sabbath you that you had better set that com­ When her daughter, Delight, in munion table back and put the cloth early 1843, accepted a teaching posi­ over it, until you begin to keep the tion at Washington, New Hampshire, to the commandments ofGod. You yourself Rachel, now a widow, decided to go constantly break one ofthem! You stay with her. Rachel and her daughter observe the pope's Sunday instead of probably lived with Daniel and Patty forefront. the Lord's Sabbathl'v-? Farnsworth, the parents ofWilliam Not long after this, in March of Farnsworth. While in Washington, 1844, Elder Wheeler became the first Rachel wanted to attend church, and in sabbatarian advent preacher. It is the absence ofa Seventh Day Baptist • believed that he introduced the subject congregation, she joined in the Sunday successfully to T. M. Preble. Preble, worship services at the nearby advent LEST WE FORGET 1st Quarter, 1994 PAGE 5

disappointment on October 22, the Seventh-day Adventist 1844, between the months of church. This decision was re­ November,1844,andJanuary, counted at the funeral service 1845, did William Farnsworth held by Elder Haskell", in Febru­ become the first ofa small group ary, 1868. Thus this indomitable ofabout fifteen members ofthe woman who was used by God in Washington church thatbegan a remarkable manner to bring the keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. light ofthe Bible Sabbath to the By the summer of 1846, the forefront, went to her rest a seventh-day Sabbath had been member ofthe remnant church. combined with the doctrines of The impact ofher interview with the second coming ofChrist, the Elder Wheeler early in 1843, and heavenly sanctuary, and condi­ her influence in favor ofthe tional immortality to form the seventh-day Sabbath in Washing­ four foundation pillars ofthis ton, New Hampshire, and the group that was later to be named precise timing ofthe introduction the Seventh-day Adventist of Sabbathkeeping in relation to church. The Spirit ofProphecy, the prophecies ofJesus' second as manifested in the person of coming, worked to lead the Ellen G. White, lent a strengthen­ pioneers ofthe Seventh-day chapel. Undoubtedly she planned ing influence as the doctrines Adventist church into the under­ to and actually did share with the were studied and prayedover. standing that the seventh-day members there her reasons for Meanwhile, in Washington, Sabbath is a distinctive feature of keeping the Bible Sabbath. They, New Hampshire, Rachel met and the third angel's message and will in turn, sought to convince her of married her second husband, be the fmal test ofallegiance to the importance ofbelieving that Nathan Preston, and later they our Creator-Redeemer.-- M.S. Jesus was coming that year. moved to Vernon, Vermont. Rachel found it difficult, how­ Until 1868, she resisted the (I) Maxwell, C. M., Tell It to the World, ever, to believe that Jesus would invitation to join the Seventh-day Pacific Press.Publishing Association, Boise, Idaho, 1976, p. 68. take to heaven a group ofSabbath Adventist church. Her daughter, (2) Spalding,A. W.,CaptainsoftheHost, breakers, and so held back from Delight Farnsworth, became a Review & Herald PublishingAssociation, full beliefin the advent as member. Others from the Wash­ Wasthington, D. C., 1949, 107. preached by the Millerites. And ington, New Hampshire church (3) Preble, T. M., "The Hope ofIsrael," reprinted in the Review and Herald, Au­ they thought Sabbathkeeping was must have kept working with and gust 23,1870, p. 73-75. oflittle importance in comparison praying for her. Perhaps that is (4) ReviewandHerald,Obituaries,March with the great second advent why, shortly before she died, she 3,1868, p. 190. message. Not until after the decided to follow the teachings of TIME LINE +1809 ...... - Jl-IIt-r+1868 Birth Move to '---.---' Death Marriage? Washington. T. M. Preble keeps Adventist pioneers begin keep­ the Sabbath. Frederick Wheeler ing Sabbath and unite to preach The Delight is born? Keeps the Sabbath. the third angel's message. Disappointment PAGE 6 1st Quarter, 1994 LEST WE FORGET Our Readers "='~II'~'I~ :~II~II1111111~I:i~I~I"~ Wr i t e 11~lllgllll~1 I ,A"AIM,,~II,I; Farnsworth(LWF, 3:3): Yourwriterdidanice job ofpatching togetherallthe conflicting stories concludedfrompage three of when the Sabbath was first discussed at ut we all, as Advent believers, have, and do Washington, NH, and by whom. Since I agree still, expect, our rest in the seventh thousand with the way she didit,maybe that is why Ithink B years. Therefore I think we should keep the she did such a nice job! God Bless, "seventh day" as a "sign," "according to the James Nix, Ellen G. White Estate, commandment. " Silver Spring, MD. . . .In regard to the Sabbath, Christ says, "The Son ofMan is Lord also ofthe Sabbath." Litch (LWF, 3:4): We found the articles to be Not a Sabbath, butthe Sabbath. He says: "The very informative and to contain an appropriate Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the description of 's view on the Sabbath." Mark 2:27,28. He does not say the trumpets. We congratulate you for the careful Sabbath was made for the Jews, and a Sabbath research done. In Christian love, for the Gentiles, but "The Sabbath was made Angel Manuel Rodriguez, Associate Director, for man." All mankind. Some may think that Biblical Research Institute, our first day is, in reality, the seventh; but this is General Conference ofSDA. settled when we examine Matt. 28:1; Luke 23:56; and 24:1, where a plain distinction is OURCHANGE OFADDRESS: Haveyouuoticed made between the two days.... our uewPost Office Box number, 1844? We wiD It is evident that Christ had his eye on the appreciate receiving yourcomments onthisissue. observance ofthe Sabbath, as late certainly as r------...-;- , A. D. 70, when Jerusalem was destroyed, when he said: "Pray that your flight be not in the ~ ~ o 0"- winter, neither on the Sabbath day." Matt. 24: /:l -' 20. But ifthis tribulation spokenofhas refer­ -" a; ence to the "Papal persecution," as many be­ "'" 0"- lieve, then they were directed to the observance l':«l..>i - ofthe Sabbath, to a much later period.... "U0] ..gS The disciples evidently kept the first day of the week as a festival, in commemoration ofthe :=:..,Po. u "'" o 6 ~ resurrection ofChrist, but neveras the Sabbath. . ~ .s;; .:!l A controversy, however, commenced toward the close ofthe first century to see whether both re'~ ~ days should be kept, or only one; and if one should be given up, which one, the first day or ~ the seventh. This controversy increased cen­ 5 tury after century, till A. D. 603, when Pope Gregory passed a law abolishing the seventh­ day Sabbath, and establishing the first day. Thus we see Dan. 7:25 fulfilled, the "little horn" changing "times and laws." Therefore, it appears to me that all who keep the first day for "the Sabbath," are Pope's Sunday-keepers!! and GOD'S SABBATH-BREAKERS!!! • Excerpts from the article by Elder T.M. Preble, entitled "The Sabbath," from the Review & Herald, August 24, 1870,pages 73,74. FirstpublishedinHopeofIsrael, Feb. DODD 28, 1845,this first printing inspired Captain Joseph Bates to keep the Bible Sabbath.

111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111I111111111111111111111I1111111111111I11111111111III:::, LEST WE FORGET 1st Quarter, 1994 PAGE 7 TilE TIillID ANGEL'£ I M:E~~AGE A BRIEFHISTORY concludedfrom page two OF SABBATHKEEPING

Adventists began toassociate the Sab­ 1520's: Martin Luther sent theologians to dissuade Oswald Glait and bath with their Advent experience. Andreas Fischer from keeping the Bible Sabbath. First, the Sabbath was connected with the ideathat in the post~1844periodall 1529: Andreas Fiseherand his wife were capturedand sentencedto death, biblical principles had to be restored she by drowning, which was carried out, and he by hanging. He escaped, among God's people before the Sec­ however, until 1540, when he was caught and hurled from a castle wall. ond Advent could take place. Sec­ ondly,thesanctuarytheology was con­ 1548: Oswald Glait, who had survived many adventuresas he preached sidered to facilitate an acceptance of the Sabbath, was captured and imprisoned. After a year and six weeks in the Sabbath and indicated its special prison, he was bound hand and foot and cast into the Danube. relevance after 1844 by focusing the attention of believers on the central 1600's: JohnandDorothyTraske,hea zealous Puritanminister, and she role ofthe Decalogue in Christ's high­ a talented teacher were imprisoned by strict American Puritans for priestlyministry inthe most holy place Sabbathkeeping. He suffered much during athree-year sentence on a ship oftheheavenly sanctuary. Thirdly, the and recantedabout the end ofthe sentence. She remainedfaithful for fifteen third angel's message, being closely or sixteen years, until she died in a filthy, rat-infested prison. associated with the restoration theme Dr. Peter Chamberlen, for 32 years a Sabbathkeeper in England, and theology, was responsible for the and favorite obstetrician ofnobility, was too valuable to persecute. importantposition ofthe Sabbath doc­ trine. . .. Sabbath observance after 1661: John James, a Sabbathkeeping minister, was arrested as he 1844came to be an integral part ofthe preached one Sabbath. At Newbury, England, he was convicted on Advent experience. As a result of trumped-up charges, hanged, drawn and quartered. identifyingthe Sabbathwith the sealof the living God-a protection against 1662: Francis Bampfield learned of the Sabbath while in prison for God's wrath-the third angel's mes­ refusing to swear an oath. For nine years he preached in prison and raised sage came to be called the sealing up a company of believers there. When released, he moved to London message, or present truth. The sealing where he was arrested three more times and finally died in damp, cold time was considered to be a present Newgate prison. andimminentfuturereality, andwould terminate atthe completion ofChrist's 1664: Stephen Mumford emigrated to Rhode Island in America from sanctuary ministry. England. In 1671 he organized the first Seventh Day Baptist church in Theimportanceofthethirdangel' S America. message was its concise formulation of the emerging theology of mission 1700's: Moravian Sabbathkeepers in Betblehem, Pennsylvania, con­ uniting the two principal elements of vinced a visitor, German Count Zinzendorff, ofthe Sabbath. the raison d'etre of Sabbatarian Ad­ ventists: (I) The proclamation ofthe 1802: in America organized their General Confer­ validity of their past Advent experi­ ence with about 1200 members. They were not very energetic about enceas animportant phase in salvation evangelism. history; (2) The proclamation of the restoration of the Sabbath to prepare 1843: General Conference ofSeventh Day Baptists makes a resolution to God's people for the day ofHis wrath. setapartNovember 1,1843 as a day for fasting and prayersothat God would Itwas at this stage ofthe development "arise and plead for His holy Sabbath." They did not anticipate the manner ofthe third angel's message that E. G. nor magnitude ofthe answer God had been preparing to this prayer. White stated, "We have the truth. We RachelOakes moved to Washington, New Hampshire, where she know it." [Letter, E.G.White to the was to be one ofGod's instruments for answering this prayer. • Hastingses, No. 18, Jan. II, 1850.] • Source: Maxwell, CoM., Tell It to the World, Review & Herald Publishiug Association, Takoma Park, MD., 1977, pages 67-73. PAGE 8 1st Quarter, 1994 LEST WE FORGET

TO UNITE THE HEARTS OF GOD'S WAITING SAINTS. by ELLen. e 'White n the holiestI sawan ark; on the top and sides unite the hearts ofGod's dear, waiting saints.... ofit was purest gold. On each end ofthe ark At the commencement of the time of trouble, we wasa lovely cherub,with its wingsspreadout were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and over it. Their faces were turned toward each proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. This enraged the other, and they looked downward. Between the angels churches and nominal Adventists as they could not was a golden censer. Above the ark, where the angels refute the Sabbath truth...." EWp. 33. stood, was an exceeding bright glory, that appeared like "The commencement ofthat time oftrouble, here a throne where God dwelt. . . . In the ark was the golden mentioned, does not refer to the time when the plagues pot ofmanna, Aaron's rod thatbudded, and the tables of shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just stone which folded together like a book. Jesus opened before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctu­ them, and I saw the ten commandments written on them ary. At thattime, while the work ofsalvation is closing, with the finger ofGod. On one table were four, and on trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will the other six. The four on the first table shone brighter be angry, yet held in check so as notto preventthe work than the othersix. But the fourth, the Sabbathcommand­ of the third angel. At that time the "latter rain," or ment, shone above themall; for the Sabbath was set apart refreshing from the presence ofthe Lord, will come, to tobe kept in honor of God's holy name. The holy give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and Sabbath lookedglorious-ahalo ofglory was all around prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven it. I saw that the Sabbath commandment was not nailed last plagues shall be poured out. ..." EWpp. 85, 86. to the cross. . .. I saw that God had not changed the "I saw the sword, famine, pestilence, and great Sabbath, for He never changes. But the pope had confusion in the land. The wicked thought that we had changed it from the seventh to the first day ofthe week; brought the judgments upon them, and they rose up and for he was to change times and laws...." EWpp. 32,33. took counsel to rid the earth ofus, thinking that then the "I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the evil would be stayed." EWpp. 33,34.• separating wall between the true Israel of God and Early Writings. Review & Herald Publishing Association, unbelievers; and thatthe Sabbath is the great question to Washington, D. C., 1882, pp. 32-34, & 85, 86.

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