Counsel #8 — Ceremonial Sabbaths

Picture: Counsel #8 — Ceremonial SabbathsCCW 85.1

Seventh-day Adventists prioritize the weekly seventh-day Sabbath, as outlined in the Fourth Commandment.^{[117]Exodus 20:8-11} This Sabbath is seen as a timeless reminder of God's creation and a day for rest and worship. It's distinct from the ceremonial sabbaths, which were temporary observances in the Old Testament. Because the ceremonial sabbaths always came on the same day of the month, they would come only occasionally on the 7^th day of the week. These annual ceremonial sabbaths were related to the annual feast days as a reminder of what was yet to come. These sabbaths ceased at Christ’s death on the cross, in contrast to the biblical seventh-day Sabbath which exists for eternity.^{[118]Genesis 2:3; Isaiah 66:22, 23, [119]https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=DFQ8}CCW 85.2

“Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:16, 17 NKJVCCW 85.3

“One day as Elder Corliss stepped out of a train, the guard [the conductor] stopped him with the request that he explain Colossians 2:16. They stopped, and as the crowd rushed by, the explanation was given, and from Leviticus 23:37, 38 it was shown that there were sabbaths besides the Sabbath of the Lord.” Ellen White in “The Australian Camp-Meeting,” ARH, January 7, 1896, par. 2CCW 85.4

Reflect: Why were the ceremonial sabbaths temporary, while the seventh-day Sabbath is eternal?CCW 85.5