Death of Senzo Meyiwa

Senzo Robert Meyiwa (24 September 1987 – 26 October 2014), aged 27 years was gunned down in what appears to be a botched robbery at the home of his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo in Vosloorus, South Africa. He was a professional footballer with the Premier Soccer League Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and was the Bafana Bafana South African goalkeeper and recent captain, representing the national team on six occasions between 2013-2014 and keeping clean sheets in his last four CAF AFCON international appearances.

Writer came to hear of Senzo’s death this morning whilst at the petrol garage and speaking to the attendant named Sphelele – who said his name means “The Last One.” I had queried Sphelele whether he was born-again and he said that there were no others that were born after him, that is why he is “The Last One.” In his “innocence” of not quite understanding where the conversation was headed, I asked him what would happen to him if he had to die? As the conversation unfolded, it was then that Sphelele informed me that Senzo Meyiwa was tragically killed last night (on Sunday evening October 26, 2014). On Saturday the 25th instant Senzo had just played for Orlando Pirates in a 4-1 win over Ajax Cape Town in the quarterfinals of the Telkom Cup. This opened up the conversation even further with the Day of Judgment and the conversation leading to: What if Sphelele found himself in Senzo’s position? Well he had work to attend to, so I left him with a booklet titled: “Your Life ~ God’s Solution to Your Religion” and a “WARNING ~ The Back of This Card May Offend You.”

During the course of this morning and into the early evening I attempted at various times to glean as much information as possible from various news sites and social media without speculating as to what took place and the parties concerned. What was evident upfront that caught my attention and was a concern was that the relationship that existed between Senzo Meyiwa and Kelly Khumalo has been termed as “lovers”, “girlfriend” and “companions.” The first thing that came to mind was that these two parties were involved in a fornicating relationship. I did pray and ask Almighty God to protect my heart as I thought upon this situation. As the reports were scanned further, it has now become quite evident that they were not only in a fornication relationship where they have a child out of wedlock, but it has surfaced that he is a married man that in April 2014 it was reported that he had left his wife Mandisa Meyiwa (nee Mhkize) for Kelly Khumalo.

What is sad and shows the ignorance of the South African and international public at large, even including political ministers, is that their heartfelt messages are holding the deceased Senzo as an icon, an idol, someone to be hero worshipped and that he could do no wrong. However there are a small minority of comments made in the social media circulating in cyberspace where the spiritual application of the souls in question need to be addressed. Whilst many have commented “Senzo RIP” or “Our prayers for you, RIP” or something along those lines of thought, the question is: Is Senzo’s soul resting in peace?

The Holy Word of the One and Only True and Living GOD ~ YHVH says the following:

Exodus 20:14  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Matthew 5:27  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Matthew 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 5:29  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Matthew 5:30  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Galatians 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Galatians 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

This blog post is not just about Senzo Meyiwa and where he will spend all of eternity, for the Holy Scripture warns:

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

This blog is about Kelly Khumalo, his estranged wife Mandisa Meyiwa, his children, the three murderers, politicians, police officers, professional footballers and athletes, YOU – in short every person living and dead. We all have an appointment with the Judge of the Universe, the Lord Jesus Christ the Righteous. All will have their day in court. There are no exceptions!

Look at the stern warning given in Holy Scripture, the very Word of God that this evil, wicked and reprobate world does not want to adhere to; it reads for it is written:

Proverb 5:1  My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
Proverb 5:2  That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
Proverb 5:3  For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
Proverb 5:4  But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
Proverb 5:5  Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Proverb 5:6  Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
Proverb 5:7  Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
Proverb 5:8  Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
Proverb 5:9  Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Proverb 5:10  Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
Proverb 5:11  And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
Proverb 5:12  And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
Proverb 5:13  And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
Proverb 5:14  I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
Proverb 5:15  Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Proverb 5:16  Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
Proverb 5:17  Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
Proverb 5:18  Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Proverb 5:19  Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
Proverb 5:20  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
Proverb 5:21  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Proverb 5:22  His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Proverb 5:23  He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Adultery is not the only concern, neither fornication, be it heterosexual or homosexual sex. You might judge this wicked love-triangle, but consider your own sin. Have you committed adultery? Looked with lust? Are you a fornicator? Or maybe you have broken God’s ninth commandment by lying? Do you tell lies and think that the Creator God will not send liars to Hell? Or maybe you never pulled the trigger, but have you committed murder of the heart by despising and hating someone? Or do you break the second commandment which is part of God’s perfect Law:

Exodus 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exodus 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exodus 20:6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

It’s not only in a religious sense as with Hinduism and Buddhism, but this also applies to idol worshipping soccer players and singers / actors, or maybe it is money and possessions, fame and fortune.

We are warned by God:

Matthew 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

We are further warned:

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Judgment Day is approaching. We see the world’s communities are becoming more and more evil and wicked, for it reveals the depraved humanity that are living for their father the devil. Things are not going to get any better – look at the Middle East which is a cesspool of iniquity and lawlessness. In fact the world over reveals the lawlessness of men and their depraved hearts! And many think they are “good” – far from it; reprobate yes, but not good!

This is the Revelation of the Day of Judgment:

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If you are honest before God and listening to your conscience, you would be guilty before the Judge of the Universe and guilty persons will be sent to Hell for eternity. The only way to receive peace with God is to be reconciled back to God through His only begotten Son, the Saviour who gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice who took the sins of the world into His body and condemned the sin in His flesh. We read of His Divinity and Humanity in being the Saviour for reprobate sinners who will call on Him to be saved:

Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Philippians 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Philippians 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Philippians 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Philippians 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Repent today – Ukupenduka – for today is the day of salvation. You are not guaranteed another day on this earth. Ask Senzo or any other approximately 150 000 people who have died in the last 24 hours and been ushered into eternity.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said:

Luke 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Luke 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:24  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luke 9:25  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Sabbath Day Keeping – A SDA Heresy

If a person does not keep the Sabbath day what are the consequences of breaking the Fourth Commandment? It is also said by Sabbatarians that Christians who worship on Sunday – the first day of the week known as the Lord’s Day – are the ones who will take the mark of the beast (Revelation 13). Is this true?

In order to deal with this treatise teaching we need to set the foundation of what the Seventh-day Adventists believe, and according to their 28 Fundamental Beliefs (link updated on 21/12/2023), they state, quote: “Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as the only source of our beliefs. We consider our movement to be the result of the Protestant conviction Sola Scriptura—the Bible as the only standard of faith and practice for Christians.”(*) Under Belief 20 dealing with the Sabbath, it reads as follows, quote:

Sabbath 20

The beneficent gracious Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth commandment of God’s unchangeable law requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom. The Sabbath is God’s perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people. Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God’s creative and redemptive acts. (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; 31:13-17; Lev. 23:32; Deut. 5:12-15; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Eze. 20:12, 20; Matt. 12:1-12; Mark 1:32; Luke 4:16; Heb. 4:1-11.)(*)

Now that the foundation has been set, let us use Sola Scriptura to see whether Sabbath day keeping is for this age and time, or whether it is a false heretic teaching that is being forced upon Seventh-day Adventist members. The Scriptures that appear at the SDA website above makes reference to parts of Scripture where the “Sabbath day” is mentioned, but the context is not taken into account where it makes specific reference to God’s people Israel. It is also noted that the SDA church are choosing Scripture very selectively to meet with their doctrine. To use one Scripture from the above list as an example is the citation of Ezekiel 20:12,20 where context is found in Ezekiel 20:3 where God speaks to the prophet Ezekiel and says:

Eze 20:3  Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

God was speaking to Israel about Him bringing them out of bondage in Egypt and the Sabbaths were given to Israel as a covenant between God and Israel to know that God is the One who sanctifies Israel and how Israel rebelled against God, as we see in the verses 12 and 13:

Eze 20:12  Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

Eze 20:13  But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

This is one example of how the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church misquotes Scripture out of context to fit their false dogma and deceive their followers. Let us first look at the requirements of Sabbath day keeping. There are those within the SDA church that keep breaking the very Sabbath day Commandment that they hold fast to and say one is to keep. Sabbath day keeping is not about just rest, it also has obligations to be kept. Let us look at what Scripture requires Sabbath day keepers to adhere to:

• Weekly offering – Numbers 28:9,10

Num 28:9  And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:

Num 28:10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

• No work is to be done – Exodus 20:10

Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

• Death to Sabbath breakers – Exodus 31:15, 35:2

Exo 31:15  Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Exo 35:2  Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

An example of a Sabbath breaker who was put to death was a man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath day as we can read in Numbers 15:32-36 ~

Num 15:32  And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

Num 15:33  And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

Num 15:34  And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

Num 15:35  And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

Num 15:36  And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Here is also a schedule (**) that shows how God regulated the keeping of the Sabbath day from His Divine Word together with a list which we would most probably equate with as a reasonable meaning in terms of today’s western living:

Sabbath law regulations	Today’s meaning for Sabbath day keepers
Do no work: Exodus 31:15	Must quit shift work jobs or work on Saturday, driving is also work
Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations for heat: Exodus 35:3	Cannot start a barbecue or start fire while camping or at home
Gather not sticks for fuel: Numbers 15:32	Cannot refuel the car, or operate anything that takes fuel including cooking equipment
Do not buy or sell goods: Nehemiah 10:31; 13:15-22	No more eating out, shopping or conducting business
Stay in your place: Exodus 16:29	Park the car and stay either home or in the hotel if travelling, no long walks either
Carry no burdens: Jeremiah 17:21-22	No gardening or carrying heavy objects
Death to violators: Exodus 31:15; Numbers 15:32-36	Stone other Adventist members who break
Strangers within their gates forced to keep: Exodus 20:10	Guests within house forced to keep
Animal sacrifices specific only to the weekly Sabbath: Numbers 28:9-10	???

The question that should be asked is: Has God relaxed any of these regulations concerning the Sabbath day and where can they be found? Clearly from Scripture we can see that no relaxing of the regulations can be found.

Now let us see what “prophetess” Ellen G. White had to say about the Fourth Commandment that is the Sabbath, and how she taught that the Sabbath is the most important of the Ten Commandments above all others. This “teaching” would fly in the face of the First Commandment that reads – Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). This is what she had to say, quote (emphasis added by writer):

1. “I beheld the tables of stone on which the Ten Commandments were written. I was amazed as I saw the fourth commandment in the very center of the ten precepts with a soft halo of light encircling it. Said the angel, ‘It is the only one of the ten which defines the living God who created the heavens and the earth and all things that are there­in.”” (Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, pages 95-96, Official Adventist publication)
2. “Jesus opened them, and I saw the Ten Commandments written on them with the finger of God. On one table were Four and on the other six. The four on the first table shone brighter than the other six. But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God’s holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious­ a halo of glory was all around it. I saw that the Sabbath commandment was not nailed to the cross.” (Early Writings of Ellen G. White, page 33, Official Adventist publication) (**)

According to the aforementioned quotes Ellen G. White says God revealed the Fourth Commandment above every other of the Ten Commandments. However, the Lord Jesus Christ said that there are two great commandments and all the law and the prophets hang on them, and these are the two commandments as we read in Matthew 22:36-40 ~

Mat 22:36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

So who do you believe? The Lord Jesus Christ? or Ellen G. White? The Truth of Christ Sola Scriptura prevails. Besides allegations against Ellen G. White being a plagiarist that copied most of her “inspired writings”, this proves that she is a false prophet with her contradictory statements against the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, who would never contradict the Father, and you can also add to these her failed prediction of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Scripture gives us the description of a false prophet as recorded in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 ~

Deu 18:20  But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Deu 18:21  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

Deu 18:22  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

We also see in Belief 18 of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA church that it deals with the Gift of Prophecy and reads as follows, quote: “One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen. G. White. As the Lord’s messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.”(*) If her prophecies are found to be false in contradictory manner then it is false to assert her to be the Lord’s messenger whose “writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.” Ellen G. White aside, from the Holy Scriptures of God we will prove that we do not have to keep the Sabbath day in order to inherit the Kingdom of God. If the SDA church keeps the Sabbath day according to the Ten Commandments and therefore relies on the law, then they are also obligated to keep all the law, which is impossible as we read in James 2:10 ~

Jas 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

For the SDA church to keep all the law they would also have to keep the other Sabbath days that are a holy convocation unto the Lord God, that are recorded in Leviticus 23. Incidentally, under the SDA Scripture citation listing above they do not list the very command by God to keep the weekly Sabbath that reads as follows under Leviticus 23:1-3 ~

Lev 23:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Lev 23:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

Lev 23:3  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.

The reason is clear. The Passover is a holy convocation (Lev. 23:4-5), the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a holy convocation (Lev. 23:6-8), the Feast of Firstfruits is a Sabbath (verse 15) (Lev. 23:9-14), the Feast of Pentecost is a holy convocation (Lev. 23:15-22), the Feast of Trumpets is a Sabbath and a holy convocation (Lev. 23:23-25), the Day of Atonement is a holy convocation preceded by a Sabbath (verse 32) (Lev. 23:26-32) and the Feast of Tabernacles is a holy convocation (Lev. 23:33-44). As Leviticus 23 starts in verses 1 and 2 with: “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel …” the concluding verse 44 of Leviticus 23 reads: “And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.” It was a Sabbath keeping covenant with Israel.

In Scripture we are told that the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, said in Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. And that is exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ did when He went to the cross and died in the place of sinners nailing the conditions of the law to His cross. Sin is the transgression of the law (see 1 John 3:4) and the sins of the world were condemned in His body upon the cross, as we read in Romans 8:3 ~

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

The Word of God tells us that the law is a curse, as we read in Galatians 3:12-14 ~

Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Gal 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

We are also told that we are justified by God, not by keeping the law, but by faith in the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. We read in Galatians 2:16-21 the following Truth ~

Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Gal 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Gal 2:18  For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Gal 2:19  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Scripture tells us that “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). It’s not by keeping the law that saves us, but faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who has fulfilled the law. Therefore, we can obtain the righteousness of God through Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

In Colossians 2:14-17 we read that the law was nailed to the cross. If this was not the case then the law can save us. Right? But hear what the Word tells us ~

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Col 2:16  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:

Col 2:17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

It tells us that the law was a shadow of things to come. If it was a shadow then there has to be something better and that better covenant (see Hebrews 9) is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and not by the works (requirements) of keeping the law. In Galatians 2:21 we are told that if righteousness comes through the law, keeping the Ten Commandments and being a Sabbath day keeper, then Christ be dead in vain. His death was then a waste of time for then the law could save you from your sins, but the Word tells us that no flesh will be justified by the works (keeping) of the law (Galatians 2:16). In fact the law is not for a righteous man, but for the lawless if used lawfully as we read in 1 Timothy 1:8-11 ~

1Ti 1:8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

1Ti 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

1Ti 1:11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

You are also reminded that if you are known by God why do you turn back to the beggarly elements like keeping the days, and months, and times, and years, as you read in Galatians 4:9,10 ~

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

We also read in Galatians 3:24 that the law is a schoolmaster that teaches us and brings us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith. To be justified in God’s sight is “just as if you never sinned”, but it is not by keeping the law, the Ten Commandments, no, but you are justified by faith in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Romans 3:25).

As we read the Holy Word of God we often see that the Pharisees of that day were looking to destroy the Lord Jesus Christ (see Matthew 12:14; Mark 3:6) and “filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus” (see Luke 6:11) for He too, did not keep the Sabbath day. In Matthew 12:1-13 and Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-5, Luke 6:1-10, 13:13-17 and John 5, 7, and 9 we see the Lord Jesus Christ not keeping the Sabbath laws as required by the Pharisees. They were legalistic and didn’t allow even compassionate work to be done on the Sabbath day. Read the accusations against the Lord Jesus Christ by the Pharisees and hear the most perfect indictment by the Lord of Glory against His accusers, which is also for the SDA followers of this age, as we read in Luke 13:14-17 ~

Luk 13:14  And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

Luk 13:15  The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

Luk 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Luk 13:17  And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

As the Lord Jesus Christ “broke” the Sabbath laws according to the legalistic Pharisees, in accordance with the conditions required to be kept, the Lord Jesus Christ should have been stoned for not keeping the Sabbath day! The Lord Jesus Christ’s disciples “plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands” “which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days” (see Luke 6:1,2) – they were working according to the Pharisees. Remember the Sabbath day law says NO WORK is to be done in it in accordance with Exodus 20:10.

We also see in the New Testament that there is no command given for a born-again believer to keep the Sabbath day as a means to inherit the Kingdom of God, or to show that “you” are a true follower of Yehovah (YHVH). In fact, what we do find is that the New Testament ekklesia (Church – Body of Christ) met on the first day of the week. In Acts 20:7 we are told that the disciples came together to break bread – to partake in the Lord’s supper – and again in 1 Corinthians 16:1,2 the Apostle Paul speaks to the church at Corinth and tells them that when they come together on the first day of the week the saints are to give their collection. The Apostle Paul even preached (taught) on the first day of the week.

In Hebrews 4 and 5 we see that in Christ Jesus we have a permanent rest. Just as God the Father rested from His creation work, not that God was tired that He needed rest; it was from the completion of His creation work that He rested, so we too are to rest from our works – the trying to keep the law – that we can obtain our rest in the Lord Jesus Christ as we read more specifically in Hebrews 4:4-9 ~

Heb 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Heb 4:5  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Heb 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

This is the spiritual rest that can only come through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a spiritual rest that is through faith in Christ Jesus and not the keeping of the law, doing deeds, that cannot save a sinner from the wrath of God. By faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, being spiritually born-again will guarantee you seeing the Kingdom of God, not by trusting in your works, but resting in Christ.

Which comes to the second allegation by the SDA church that if you worship on the Sunday you will be the one who takes the mark of the beast. Firstly the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said that one man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike, as we read in Romans 14:5,6 ~

Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

If one wants to worship God on the seventh, or first day, if the person regards it unto the Lord he regards it to the Lord. As long as it is not legalistic worship, you can worship the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father on any day. God looks at the heart, but if the worship is contrary to His Word then you have a problem – it is sin! In Revelation 13 that deals with the mark of the beast, nowhere does the Scriptures say anything about those who worship on Sunday as receiving the mark of the beast. It is clear from Scripture that those who do not worship God, who do not have their name in the Lamb’s book of life will be those who worship the beast and will be those who take the mark of the beast as we read in Revelation 13:8,11-18. The reason for the mark is not the day of worship, but those that are not born again and have not their names written in the book of life and the reason is that they would not be able to buy or sell unless you had the mark of the beast – 666 – as we read in Revelation 13:16-18 ~

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

It is clear that the SDA church is using the day of worship – to keep the Saturday Sabbath day – as a fear tactic so that the SDA members of this cult will be fearful of worshipping God on any other day other than the Saturday Sabbath day. Cults operate like this. Islam has the same fear tactic instilled in their followers. If they convert away from their religion their family will disown them or they will be killed as an infidel. It is fear-tactics, devilish works, not God’s mercy and grace! The Devil deceives!

Repent and believe upon the True Lord Jesus Christ by faith and not by works of the law. For the just shall live by faith (see Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11).

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Sources:

*          www.adventist.org

**        www.bible.ca