Health and Happiness

     3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/3JN.1.KJV While this is God's wish for each of us, it is important to note that all actions have consequences, God's promises are almost always conditional, and that God works in accordance with His own laws of nature. 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.3.KJV 1 Corinthians 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.6.KJV Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV In the beginning God created humankind in His own image and He states that we are His temple.  Anything that we do, think, or eat or drink has an influence on God's temple for good or for evil; and each person will reap whatever they sow. Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GAL.6.KJV Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.4.KJV 

    Notice the -if/then statements in this and the other promises that I will be listing here.  A lot of people want the blessings without the obedience, but that is not usually how God operates.  Some will make bargains with God like, "if you heal me from this, then I will do that." God holds each accountable for the promises that they make. It is better to not make a promise to God than to make one and not keep it. Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.5.KJV  So let's look at a few health related promises of God: James 5:13 "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.5.KJV Notice the conditions of each promise. Exodus 15:26 "and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.15.KJV Proverbs 3:1 "My son, forget not my law; But let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, And peace, shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.3.KJV Proverbs 4:20 "My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.4.KJV Proverbs 14:30 "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: But envy the rottenness of the bones." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.14.KJV Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
But a broken spirit drieth the bones." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.17.KJV Jeremiah 8:22 "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.8.KJV Jeremiah 33:6 "Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.33.KJV Jeremiah 30:17 "For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.30.KJV  Isaiah 58:6 "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.58.KJV Psalm 43:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: For I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.43.KJV Psalm 38:3 "There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.38.KJV Psalm 41:1 "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: And thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: Heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.41.KJV Psalm 67:1 "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; And cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2 That thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.67.KJV Psalm 30:2 "O LORD my God,
I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.30.KJV Psalm 91:14 "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.91.KJV 

     What these verses say to me is that sickness pain and death are due to sin and Satan. Job makes this even more plain in Job 2:3 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.2.KJV when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, Satan became the temporary ruler of this earth.  Adam had been the ruler of this earth as is noted in Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV   In Job when Satan comes to present himself before the Lord, he is in effect saying that he is the representative of this world. Job 2:1 "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.2.KJV Notice how Satan had to get permission to touch Job.  Everything that happens to us has to first passed through God's hands, and for whatever reason He has allowed it. The reasons may never be apparent to us in this life.(I am preparing another study on the "Why's" of life) Romans 8 gives us this promise in verses 26-28: 26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.8.KJV 

     Another factor in healing seems to be faith. Acts 3:12 "And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 16 And his(Jesus) name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.3.KJV Mark 5:34 "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MRK.5.KJV Matthew 9:2 "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.9.KJV

     In the healing process we need to cooperate with God.  We need to stop any harmful habits, and stop putting into our bodies harmful substances. God has given the body an amazing ability to heal itself given the right conditions. We need a "New Start"-- N= nutrition, E= exercise, W=water, S=sunshine, T=temperance, A=air, R=rest, T= trust in God. These 8 laws of health can be used to eliminate most disease.  If we would eat only the good, wholesome foods, get moderate exercise outside in the fresh air and sunshine, get adequate rest and water and trust solely on the God of heaven most of the diseases that we face today would vanish.

See also another of my blogs for health related issues: https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2024/03/unclean-vs-clean.html

    And I know that there are people who wonder why God allows some to die even though they have a great faith, while others live. The only example that I can give someone comes from the life of a king in the Bible, king Hezekiah. The story is told in Isaiah 38:1 "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, 3 and said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 4 Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, 5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.38.KJV King Hezekiah was listed as being a good, God-fearing king, who was told that he was going to die. He prayed and God healed him. The story continues that the Babylonians came and 2 Chronicles records in verse 25 "But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2CH.32.KJV  Isaiah 39 continues the story 3 "Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.39.KJV None of that would have happened had Hezekiah set his house in order as he had been instructed to do in the first place. God knows the end from the beginning and He knows what is for our BEST interest. He is trying to save as many people as possible and His instructions in His Word, and His providence are working toward that goal.

 
    Don't forget to be grateful when you do get a healing from the Lord. Luke 17:12 "And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.17.KJV Psalm 103:2 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.103.KJV

Who are God's chosen people?

 Most, if not all churches claim that they alone have the truth. There has been a great deal of talk about Israel and God's chosen people, so let's see what the Bible says about who are God's chosen people. We will begin with several scriptures: Galatians 3:26-29 KJV "26 For ye 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 ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." https://bible.com/bible/1/gal.3.26-29.KJV Galatians 4:7 KJV 7 "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." https://bible.com/bible/1/gal.4.7.KJV Romans 8:14-17 KJV 14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.8.14-17.KJV Romans 9:6-8 KJV 6 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.9.6-8.KJV Romans 9:24-26, 29-31 KJV 24 "even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; And her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; There shall they be called the children of the living God. 29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness." https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.9.24-31.KJV Romans 11:17-27 KJV 17 "And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, And shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins." https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.11.17-27.KJV Ephesians 3:6 KJV  "that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" https://bible.com/bible/1/eph.3.6.KJV Matthew 7:21 KJV "not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.7.21.KJV Matthew 12:50 KJV "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.12.50.KJV John 15:14 KJV "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. " https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.15.14.KJV 

According to all of these verses anyone who follows Jesus and do His will, wherever they come from, whatever their nationality are spiritual Israel 

Now consider the following verses:Daniel 9:24-27 KJV 24 "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." https://bible.com/bible/1/dan.9.24-27.KJV  I'm not going to break this down completely word for word, but let's take some of the phrases. Verse 24 says 70 weeks are determined upon THY people.  Who are Daniel's people? Well, of course, it's the Jewish nation.  So 70 weeks, using the day for a year principal as found in Ezekiel 4:6 KJV "And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year." https://bible.com/bible/1/ezk.4.6.KJV And, Numbers 14:34 KJV "After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise." https://bible.com/bible/1/num.14.34.KJV so 70x7=490 years are "determined" for the Jewish nation as a whole, not as individuals. So when did this 490 years start and when did it end? For that we have to look at history.  Ezra 7:7-21 KJV 7 "And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. 11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. 14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; 15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: 17 that thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. 19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house. 21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,"https://bible.com/bible/1/ezr.7.7-21.KJV While there are other commands to rebuild Jerusalem this is the only command that restores all the vessels of the temple and provides for the work to be done. So finding this date in history is the next course of action. According to historical records the seventh year of Artaxerxes reign would be  457BC (see:  https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/4995/t/right-on-time--prophetic-appointments-revealed for more in depth study) Calculator time: 457BC as a start for 490 years accounting for the fact that there was no year #0 brings us to what year? 34AD In the year 34 AD the martyr Stephen was stoned in Acts Acts 7:59 KJV "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." https://bible.com/bible/1/act.7.59.KJV Now in Acts Paul says, Acts 13:46 KJV "Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." https://bible.com/bible/1/act.13.46.KJV  As a nation Israel rejected the Messiah and His messengers so as a nation they were rejected as a favored people.  As individuals God can graff them in again as earlier texts mentioned. So when people use the following verses to say that the Sabbath was just for the Jews, they don't really understand that whoever follows Jesus is spiritual Israel and that Gods Sabbath is His mark of authority. Exodus 31:12-17 KJV 12 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. 14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth 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 doeth 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." https://bible.com/bible/1/exo.31.12-17.KJV

Why is it that people have no problem with saying that we should keep Exodus 20:3 KJV "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." https://bible.com/bible/1/exo.20.3.KJV Or Exodus 20:12 KJV "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." https://bible.com/bible/1/exo.20.12.KJV Or any of the other commandments but the one that God specifically says to "Remember" is the one that they wish to forget. If God's law could change then satan would be correct in saying that God is not fair. If God's law could be changed then "the wages of sin might not be death", and Jesus would not have had to come and die for us.  

Malachi 3:6 KJV "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." https://bible.com/bible/1/mal.3.6.KJV

Sighing and crying for abominations

 Video by a brother in Christ who gave me permission to repost: https://youtu.be/8W7RKwqrT7o?si=AQYtCG4-WmGxUCX3

Original testimony

 I grew up as a preacher's kid. I lived a pretty sheltered life even though my parents were constantly at odds and divorced when I was 16. As a child age 8-12 I just "knew" that when Jesus comes back that it would be on a Sabbath and every Sabbath on the way to and from church I would try to figure out if any of the clouds was the "little cloud, the size of a man's hand" as in: 1 Kings 18:44 KJV "And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not." https://bible.com/bible/1/1ki.18.44.KJV I had been taught that Jesus is going to come back and get would be coming from the east. I knew which way East was and would scan the horizon every Sabbath. Fast forward to around 2009. I was still going to church but I was living a life that today I am ashamed of. I came to a point in my life where I was either going to forget everything that I had ever been taught and quit coming to church or I would have to turn my back on the world and re-surrender my life to God. I decided on surrender. I took a 3x5 card and wrote: I give to God my past. I give to God my future, I give to God my family, I give to God my love. I put that and my jewelry in a tithe envelope and put it in the offering plate at church.  Immediately my family and my life were ripped apart. It has been a long slow road, but God is putting the pieces of my broken life back together again and he has blessed me more than I could ever have imagined.  No, I don't have material wealth, or basically anything at all but I am happier now than I have been since I was 12. I  am still looking for that cloud coming from the East.

Another testimony

 https://www.youtube.com/live/bOh7-elIgpE?si=15NJOY0si3hiFQbD

Sabbath is essential

     What does the Bible say about the Sabbath? Let's begin in Genesis 1:31 KJV "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." Genesis 2:1-3 KJV "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 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." https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.2.1-3.KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.1.31.KJV God established the Sabbath in Eden when there was only Adam and Eve; the Jews as a nation didn't come into existence for many generations later. (As a side note, this is also when marriage between one man and one woman began.) Many years later, the Israelites were wondering in the desert and were hungry. In Exodus 16, God is about to give them manna from heaven. This is the description, Exodus 16:4-5 KJV 4"Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. 5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily." Exodus 16:16-30 KJV 16"This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. 19 And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. 20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them. 21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. 22 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. 24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. 25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field. 26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. 27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. 28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30 So the people rested on the seventh day." https://bible.com/bible/1/exo.16.16-30.KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/exo.16.4-5.KJV God was teaching them even then when Sabbath was. This event took place 4 chapters before the give of the law in Exodus chapter 20:8-11 KJV 8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 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: 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." https://bible.com/bible/1/exo.20.8-11.KJV In ancient Israel breaking the Sabbath was a death penalty. See Numbers 15:32, 35 KJV 32 "And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 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." https://bible.com/bible/1/num.15.32-35.KJV

    So now we must ask ourselves exactly what does it mean in Colossians 2:16 KJV, when it says: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" ? https://bible.com/bible/1/col.2.16.KJV Let's go to Isaiah 1:13-14 KJV 13"Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.1.13-14.KJV  Hosea 2:11 KJV "I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts." https://bible.com/bible/1/hos.2.11.KJV So what were these "new moons and sabbaths"? Turn to  Leviticus 23:4, 24, 39 KJV 4 "These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. 39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath." (Read whole chapter for context) https://bible.com/bible/1/lev.23.4-39.KJV Notice in these verses that it did not matter what day of the week that the small (s) sabbaths fell on, they were to observe them as a sabbath, not The Sabbath.  It is currently impossible for every male to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem 3 times in a year. While God still does work according to the calendar that He set up, because God cannot change see Malachi 3:6 KJV "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." https://bible.com/bible/1/mal.3.6.KJV If God could change then satan would be correct in saying that God is arbitrary and unfair. Jesus would not have had to come to save us from sin, because God could then just decide that the wages of sin isn't death, but that is another subject for another time. Exodus 31:18 KJV "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." https://bible.com/bible/1/exo.31.18.KJV God Himself wrote the ten commandments and not even He can change them. Psalm 111:7-8 KJV 7 "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; All his commandments are sure. 8 They stand fast for ever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness." https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.111.7-8.KJV Proverbs 28:7, 9-10 KJV 7 "Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: But he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father. 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer shall be abomination. 10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, He shall fall himself into his own pit: But the upright shall have good things in possession." https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.28.7-10.KJV Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV 13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." https://bible.com/bible/1/ecc.12.13-14.KJV Since every work will be brought into judgment; by what standard does God judge us, if not by His law? 

    So how are we to keep the Sabbath? Isaiah 58:13-14 KJV 13 "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14 then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.58.13-14.KJV When Jesus came the Jews were so fearful of breaking the Sabbath that they had made it a burden. Jesus came to show us how to keep the Sabbath. Luke 4:16 KJV "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read." https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.4.16.KJV Matthew 12:10-13 KJV 10 "and, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other." https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.12.10-13.KJV Jesus showed us by example how to keep Sabbath holy. Isaiah 42:21 KJV "The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable." https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.42.21.KJV Jesus expounded on the law, He didn't do away with it. In fact He said, John 14:15 KJV "If ye love me, keep my commandments." https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.14.15.KJV He also said, Matthew 5:17-22, 27-28 KJV 17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 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." https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.5.17-28.KJV This is what Isaiah meant when he said, "he will magnify the law". 

    So what about the disciples and Paul, what day did they keep? Acts 13:14, 44 KJV 14 "But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God." https://bible.com/bible/1/act.13.14-44.KJV Acts 17:2 KJV "and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures," https://bible.com/bible/1/act.17.2.KJV They kept the Sabbath.  Have you heard something like this, "That was the old covenant, we are under the new covenant?" Well, Hebrews 8:10 KJV "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, And write them in their hearts: And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people:" https://bible.com/bible/1/heb.8.10.KJV James 2:10-12, 17 KJV 10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." https://bible.com/bible/1/jas.2.10-17.KJV  Can the court system of today judge a person if there is no law? Then how could the God of the universe judge anyone if His laws were not in force? 1 John 3:4 KJV "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.3.4.KJV God fully expected His laws to still be binding on us today, as expressed in Revelation 14:12 KJV "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." https://bible.com/bible/1/rev.14.12.KJV Even in heaven, Isaiah says, in Isaiah 66:22-23 KJV 22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD." https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.66.22-23.KJV In conclusion we can find keeping the seventh day of the week holy from Genesis to Revelation. All the Christian world knows that Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday morning, so according to Matthew 28:1 KJV "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre." https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.28.1.KJV  Sunday is the first day of the week and it falls after the Sabbath. God never changes, and He never will.

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7

Chapter 22—The Sign of our Order

I have been instructed that our medical institutions are to stand as witnesses for God. They are established to relieve the sick and the afflicted, to awaken a spirit of inquiry, to disseminate light, and to advance reform. These institutions, rightly conducted, will be the means of bringing a knowledge of the reforms essential to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord, before many that otherwise it would be impossible for us to reach. 7T 104.1

Many of the patrons of our medical institutions have high ideas in regard to the presence of God abiding in the institution they visit; and they are very susceptible to the spiritual influences that prevail. If all the physicians, nurses, and helpers are walking circumspectly before God, they have more than human power in dealing with these men and women. Every institution whose helpers are consecrated is pervaded by divine power; and the patrons not only obtain relief from bodily infirmities, but find a healing balm for their sin-sick souls. 7T 104.2

Let the leaders among our people emphasize the necessity of a strong religious influence being maintained in our medical institutions. The Lord designs that these shall be places where He will be honored in word and in deed, places where His law will be magnified and the truths of the Bible made prominent. Medical missionaries are to do a great work for God. They are to be wide awake and vigilant, having on every piece of the Christian armor and fighting manfully. They are to be loyal to their Leader, obeying His commandments, including the one by which they reveal the sign of their order. 7T 104.3

The observance of the Sabbath is the sign between God and His people. Let us not be ashamed to bear the sign that distinguishes us from the world. As I considered this matter in the night season recently, One of authority counseled us to study the instruction given the Israelites in regard to the Sabbath. “Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep,” the Lord declared to them; “for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.... 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. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever.” Exodus 31:13-17. 7T 105.1

The Sabbath is ever the sign that distinguishes the obedient from the disobedient. With masterly power Satan has worked to make null and void the fourth commandment, that the sign of God may be lost sight of. The Christian world have trodden underfoot the Sabbath of the Lord and observe a sabbath instituted by the enemy. But God has a people who are loyal to Him. His work is to be carried forward in right lines. The people who bear His sign are to establish churches and institutions as memorials to Him. These memorials, however humble in appearance, will constantly bear witness against the false sabbath instituted by Satan, and in favor of the Sabbath instituted by the Lord in Eden, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. 7T 105.2

A spirit of irreverence and carelessness in the observance of the Sabbath is liable to come into our sanitariums. Upon the men of responsibility in the medical missionary work rests the duty of giving instruction to physicians, nurses, and helpers in regard to the sanctity of God's holy day. Especially should every physician endeavor to set a right example. The nature of his duties naturally leads him to feel justified in doing on the Sabbath many things that he should refrain from doing. So far as possible he should so plan his work that he can lay aside his ordinary duties. 7T 106.1

Often physicians and nurses are called upon during the Sabbath to minister to the sick, and sometimes it is impossible for them to take time for rest and for attending devotional services. The needs of suffering humanity are never to be neglected. The Saviour, by His example, has shown us that it is right to relieve suffering on the Sabbath. But unnecessary work, such as ordinary treatments and operations that can be postponed, should be deferred. Let the patients understand that physicians and helpers should have one day for rest. Let them understand that the workers fear God and desire to keep holy the day that He has set apart for His followers to observe as a sign between Him and them. 7T 106.2

The educators and those being educated in our medical institutions should remember that to keep the Sabbath aright means much to them and to the patrons. In keeping the Sabbath, which God declares shall be kept holy, they give the sign of their order, showing plainly that they are on the Lord's side. 7T 106.3

Now and ever we are to stand as a distinct and peculiar people, free from all worldly policy, unembarrassed by confederating with those who have not wisdom to discern God's claims so plainly set forth in His law. All our medical institutions are established as Seventh-day Adventist institutions to represent the various features of gospel medical missionary work and thus to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. We are to show that we are seeking to work in harmony with heaven. We are to bear witness to all nations, kindreds, and tongues that we are a people who love and fear God, a people who keep holy His memorial of creation, the sign between Him and His obedient children that He sanctifies them. And we are plainly to show our faith in the soon coming of our Lord in the clouds of heaven. 7T 106.4

As a people we have been greatly humiliated by the course that some of our brethren in responsible positions have taken in departing from the old landmarks. There are those who, in order to carry out their plans, have by their words denied their faith. This shows how little dependence can be placed on human wisdom and judgment. Now, as never before, we need to see the danger of being led unguardedly away from loyalty to God's commands. We need to realize that God has given us a decided message of warning for the world, even as He gave Noah a message of warning for the antediluvians. Let our people beware of belittling the importance of the Sabbath in order to link up with unbelievers. Let them beware of departing from the principles of our faith, making it appear that it is not wrong to conform to the world. Let them be afraid of heeding the counsel of any man, whatever his position may be, who works counter to that which God has wrought in order to keep His people separate from the world. 7T 107.1

The Lord is testing His people to see who will be loyal to the principles of His truth. Our work is to proclaim to the world the first, second, and third angels’ messages. In the discharge of our duties we are neither to despise nor to fear our enemies. To bind ourselves up by contracts with those not of our faith is not in the order of God. We are to treat with kindness and courtesy those who refuse to be loyal to God, but we are never, never to unite with them in counsel regarding the vital interests of His work. Putting our trust in God, we are to move steadily forward, doing His work with unselfishness, in humble dependence upon Him, committing to His providence ourselves and all that concerns our present and future, holding the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end, remembering that we receive the blessings of heaven, not because of our worthiness, but because of Christ's worthiness and our acceptance, through faith in Him, of God's abounding grace. 7T 107.2

I pray that my brethren may realize that the third angel's message means much to us and that the observance of the true Sabbath is to be the sign that distinguishes those who serve God from those who serve Him not. Let those who have become sleepy and indifferent awake. We are called to be holy, and we should carefully avoid giving the impression that it is of little consequence whether or not we retain the peculiar features of our faith. Upon us rests the solemn obligation of taking a more decided stand for truth and righteousness than we have taken in the past. The line of demarcation between those who keep the commandments of God and those who do not is to be revealed with unmistakable clearness. We are conscientiously to honor God, diligently using every means of keeping in covenant relation with Him, that we may receive His blessings, the blessings so essential for the people who are to be so severely tried. To give the impression that our faith, our religion, is not a dominating power in our lives is greatly to dishonor God. Thus we turn from His commandments, which are our life, denying that He is our God and that we are His people. 7T 108.1

***** 

We are to invite everyone—the high and the low, the rich and the poor, all sects and classes—to share the benefits of our medical institutions. We receive into our institutions people of all denominations. But as for ourselves we are strictly denominational; we are sacredly denominated by God and are under His theocracy. But we are not unwisely to press upon anyone the peculiar points of our faith. 7T 109.1

***** Think about this for a minute, the only commandment that people want to forget, the only one that they claim that has somehow been changed is the one that begins with the word, "remember". I wonder why God would start the fourth commandment with that particular word? Could it be that He knew that mankind would try to erase it?

In order that men might not forget the true God, Jehovah gave them a memorial of His love and power—the Sabbath. He says: “Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you.” Exodus 31:13. 7T 109.2

***** 

Concerning Israel, the Lord declared: “The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Numbers 23:9. To us as well as to ancient Israel these words apply. God's people are to stand alone. The observance of the seventh-day Sabbath is to be a sign between them and God, showing that they are to be a peculiar people, separate from the world in habit and practice. Through them God will work to gather from all nationalities a people for Himself. 7T 109.3 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/117.565#566

Separating from the former churches

 But as ministers and religious leaders decided against the Advent doctrine, and desired to suppress all agitation of the subject, they not only opposed it from the pulpit, but denied their members the privilege of attending preaching upon the second advent, or even of speaking of their hope in the social meetings of the church. Thus the believers found themselves in a position of great trial and perplexity. They loved their churches, and were loth to separate from them; but as they saw the testimony of God's Word suppressed, and their right to investigate the prophecies denied, they felt that loyalty to God forbade them to submit. Those who sought to shut out the testimony of God's Word they could not regard as constituting the church of Christ, "the pillar and ground of the truth." Hence they felt themselves justified in separating from their former connection. In the summer of 1844 about fifty thousand withdrew from the churches.

About this time a marked change was apparent in most of the churches throughout the United States. There had been for many years a gradual but steadily increasing conformity to worldly practices and customs, and a corresponding decline in real spiritual life; but in that year there were evidences of a sudden and marked declension, in nearly all the churches of the land. While none seemed able to suggest the cause, the fact itself was widely noted and commented upon, both by the press and the pulpit. GC88 375.3 - GC88 376.1