What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Should fixed times for worship services and prayers be changed due to state regulations, and would this compromise God?"
Answer
The scriptures emphasize that the divine Sabbath command takes precedence over human regulations, as the Sabbath is a binding seal between God and His people. While secular institutions (such as restaurants) should remain closed on the Sabbath to honor God's command, the unilateral shifting of holy times is regarded as a sign of a rebellious power. Whoever consciously alters God's law in favor of state or church decrees gives that power more honor than God Himself.
The Separation between God's Law and Human Needs
»The demarcation line between our people and the world must always be unmistakably clear. Our platform is the law of God, in which we are commanded to observe the Sabbath day... We must heed the Lord's instruction, even if our obedience causes great inconvenience to those who have no respect for the Sabbath. On one side we have the supposed necessities of humanity, on the other the commandments of God. Which carries greater weight for us?«
The Presumption to Change God's Times and Laws
»Only by altering God's law could the papacy elevate itself above God; whoever conscientiously follows such a changed law would render the power that effected the change the highest honor. Such an act of obedience to papal laws would be a sign of loyalty to the pope instead of to God. The papacy has attempted to change God's law... The alteration of the fourth commandment fulfills the prophecy precisely. Here the papal power openly supersedes God.«
The Sabbath as a Sign of Recognition of the True God
»By observing the Creator's sanctified day of rest, He is recognized as the true God, in contrast to any object upon which the eye may rest... But Scripture clearly predicts that the sinful man would exalt himself above everything that is called or worshiped as God, and would 'think of changing times and laws.' Undoubtedly, it refers to God's times and laws. This departure began in the apostolic age and has led to the complete development of the sinful man and his blasphemous deeds, among which we can name the alteration of the fourth commandment.«
Critique of the Arbitrary Shifting of Holy Times
»Zwingle says: 'If we were to bind the Lord's day to a time such that it would be sacrilege to transfer it to another time... this so carefully observed day would be imposed upon us as a ceremony. For we are not bound to the time in any way, but time should serve us so that it is permitted and allowed for every church when necessity demands... to transfer the solemnity and rest of the Lord's day or Sabbath to another day.' Thus Zwingle could not regard Sunday as a divinely instituted memorial of the resurrection, but only as a church festival.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
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