Mystery of Iniquity
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resurrection of Jesus, and told them that by his rising on the first day
of the week, he changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day
of the week. Thus Satan used the resurrection to serve his purpose. He
and his angels rejoiced that the errors they had prepared took so well
with the professed friends of Christ. What one might look upon with
religious horror, another would receive. The different errors would be
received, and with zeal defended. The will of God plainly revealed in
his word, was covered up with error and tradition, which have been
taught as the commandments of God. But although this heaven-daring
deception was to be suffered to be carried on down through time
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until the second appearing of Jesus, yet through all this time of error
and deception, God has not been left without a witness. There have
been true and faithful witnesses keeping all of God’s commandments
through the darkness and persecution of the church.
I saw that angels were filled with amazement as they beheld the
sufferings and death of the King of glory. But I saw that it was no
marvel to the angelic host that the Lord of life and glory, who filled
all heaven with joy and splendor, should break the bands of death,
and walk forth from his prison house a triumphant conqueror. And if
either of these events should be commemorated by a day of rest, it is
the crucifixion. But, I saw that neither of those events were designed
to alter or abolish God’s law; but they give the strongest proof of its
immutability.
Both of these important events have their memorials. By partaking
of the Lord’s supper, the broken bread and the fruit of the vine, we show
forth the Lord’s death until he comes. By observing this memorial, the
scenes of his sufferings and death are brought fresh to our minds. The
resurrection of Christ is commemorated by our being buried with him
by baptism, and raised up out of the watery grave in likeness of his
resurrection, to live in newness of life.
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I was shown that the law of God would stand fast forever, and exist
in the new earth to all eternity. At the creation, when the foundations
of the earth were laid, the sons of God looked with admiration upon the
work of the Creator, and all the heavenly host shouted for joy. It was
then that the foundation of the Sabbath was laid. At the close of the
six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day from all his work
which he had made; and he blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,
because that in it he had rested from all his work. The Sabbath was