Introduction of Sabbath Truth

1. Sabbath Accepted By Early Adventists. The Sabbath truth was first brought by Rachel Oakes Preston (Seventh Day Baptist) to the Adventists in Washington, New Hampshire. It was accepted by a few of the group there near the time of the October, 1844, disappointment. Early in 1845, the T. M. Preble article on the Sabbath, published in The Hope of Israel, was read by Joseph Bates, who was led to recognize the binding claims of the fourth commandment, accept the Sabbath, and begin teaching it to others.EGWMR 34.2

2. Accepted By James And Ellen White.EGWMR 34.3

a. First Introduction.—Ellen Harmon, with her sister and James White, was in New Bedford early in 1846. Elder Bates urged his Sabbath views upon them, but they did not accept his teachings.EGWMR 34.4

b. Importance Not Felt.—“I did not feel its importance, and thought that he erred in dwelling upon the fourth commandment more than upon the other nine.”—Ellen G. White, Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 95.EGWMR 34.5

c. Accepted From Scriptural Evidence.—In August, 1846, Joseph Bates published his forty-eight-page tract, “The Seventh-day Sabbath a Perpetual Sign.” James and Ellen White received a copy of this about the time of their marriage. From the Scriptural evidence presented, they took their stand. “In the autumn of 1846 we began to observe the Bible Sabbath, and to teach and defend it.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:75. There were at this time about fifty Sabbathkeepers throughout entire New England. (Testimonies for the Church 1:77.)EGWMR 34.6

d. Accepted Before Vision on Sabbath.—“I believed the truth upon the Sabbath question before I had seen anything in vision in reference to the Sabbath. It was months after I had commenced keeping the Sabbath before I was shown its importance and its place in the third angel’s message.”—E. G. White Letter 2, 1874.EGWMR 34.7

e. Vision Concerning Importance of Sabbath.—On the first Sabbath in April, 1847, some seven months after the Whites commenced keeping and teaching the Sabbath, the Lord gave a vision stressing its importance. A description of the scenes of this vision was sent by Mrs. White to Joseph Bates, at New Bedford, in a letter which shortly afterward was published by him.EGWMR 34.8

(1) In this vision Mrs. White seemed to be transported to heaven and conducted through the heavenly sanctuary.EGWMR 34.9

(2) In the most holy place she saw the ark that contains the law, and was amazed to note that “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.” (Letter to Joseph Bates, April 7, 1847, published by him in broadside entitled, A Vision, Vol. 1, No. 1.) (Early Writings, 32-35.)EGWMR 34.10

(3) There was also shown her the change of the Sabbath, the significance of Sabbath observance, the work before them in proclaiming the Sabbath truth, the relationship of Sabbath observance to the troublous times before the loyal people of God, climaxing in the second coming of Christ bringing final deliverance.EGWMR 34.11

(4) The relationship of the Sabbath to the third angel’s message was also revealed: “I was shown its importance and its place in the third angel’s message.”—E. G. White Letter 2, 1874.EGWMR 34.12

“I was shown that the third angel, proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, represents the people who receive this message and raise the voice of warning to the world, to keep the commandments of God as the apple of the eye, and that in response to this warning many would embrace the Sabbath of the Lord.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:77.EGWMR 34.13

f. Confirmed by Revelation.—Thus were confirmed by revelation the conclusions in regard to the Sabbath, that had been reached by direct, earnest Bible study. God unmistakably placed His seal of approval on their belief and teaching. This vital truth was not introduced through direct revelation, but was first seen through the study of His Word.EGWMR 34.14