ENDTIME ISSUES NEWSLETTER No. 158

“The Sabbath and the Savior”

Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D.

Retired Professor of Church History and Theology

Andrews University

Adventists are often accused of making the Sabbath their Savior. Perhaps, this perception has been encouraged by the prophetic understanding of the Sabbath as the endtime “Seal of God,” that will protect the Remnant people during the great tribulation caused by the last plagues.

To dispel existing legalistic misunderstanding of the Sabbath, we shall attempt in this Bible study to clarify the redemptive meaning and experience of the Sabbath as found in the OT and NT. We shall see that the function of the Sabbath is not to offer salvation through the observance of the seventh day, but to invite us to stop our work to allow Christ to work in us more fully and freely. Legalists work for their own salvation, but on the Sabbath we do not work for our salvation. We rest in order to allow God’s omnipotent grace to operate more fully and freely in our lives. Thus, genuine Sabbathkeeping is salvation by grace, not by works.

This Bible study explores how the Sabbath has helped Jewish and Christian believers to conceptualize and experience the reality of redemption. Simply stated, we seek to understand how the Sabbath relates to the Messiah to come in the OT and to the Savior who has come in the NT. Our ultimate goal is to understand more fully the religious significance of the act of resting on the Sabbath.

The need for this study arises from the fact that our Adventist theology has largely ignored the redemptive meaning of the Sabbath and the religious significance of the act of resting on the seventh day. Our focus has been on the divine command to rest on the seventh day, without helping people to understand the significance of the act of resting per se. The result is that some Adventists feel that they are observing the Sabbath as long as they do go to church and do not pursue gainful employment on that day.

But, we shall see that there is more to Sabbathkeeping than abstaining from work and going to church. In the Bible the act of resting is a faith response to God. It is an act of resignation to our human efforts to achieve salvation through our own works, in order to allow the omnipotent grace of God to operate more fully and freely in our lives. Properly understood and experienced Sabbathkeeping is an antidote to salvation by works, because it invites us to stop our works in order to allow God’s grace to work in us more fully and freely. This is what salvation by grace is all about.

These introductory statements offer a preview of our Bible study on “The Sabbath and the Savior.” The full version of this study is found in chapter 5 of Divine Rest for Human Restlessness, which is entitled “The Sabbath: Good News of Redemption.” A shorter version is found in chapter 4 of The Sabbath Under Crossfire, which is entitled “The Savior and the Sabbath.” For the sake of brevity I have shorten considerably these two chapters. If you wish to read the full version of this Bible study, you are welcome to order these books online at www.biblicalperspectives.com or by calling us at 269-471-2915. We guarantee to process your order immediately.

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UPDATE REPORT ON CRACKING THE DA VINCI CODE

The release of the DVD Album Cracking the Da Vinci Code, is generating considerable interest and enthusiastic responses from viewers in different parts of the world. At the last two weekend seminars, I have shown part of the DVD lecture Cracking the Da Vinci Code, before my afternoon presentation. The response was most encouraging. Many members queued up to purchase the album after the close of the Sabbath.

Three things you will appreciate about the newly released DVD album on Cracking the Da Vinci Code:

1) You will appreciate the clarity of the lecture which is delivered with the help of 140 appealing slides in the setting of an impressive virtual studio. The slides are professionally designed to vividly illustrate the concepts discussed.

2) You will appreciate the compelling refutation of Dan Brown’s blatant attacks against the fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith. To avoid confusing the viewer with technical scholarly arguments, I have focused on the major false claims of The Da Vinci Code, showing how they are totally devoid of biblical and historical support.

3) You will appreciate most of all the insights into the prophetic significance of Dan Brown’s neo-pagan false worship of the “sacred feminine” with ritual sex. You will see how this false worship is part of the endtime showdown between the true and false worship of God, portrayed dramatically especially in the book of Revelation.

To facilitate the sharing of the Cracking the Da Vinci Code to friends and neighbors, many have requested for a special discount on quantity orders of 10 albums or more. In response to these requests, we decided to offer until November 30, 2006, the DVD album Cracking the Da Vinci Code at an unprecedented introductory offer:

ONE DVD ALBUM for $35.00 instead of regular price of $100.00.

This represents 65% discount.

THREE DVD ALBUMS for $50.00 instead of $300.00.

This represents about 80% discount.

TEN DVD ALBUMS for $100.00 instead of $1000.00.

This represents 90% discount.

The quoted prices include the AIRMAIL expenses to any overseas destination. You can order the DVD albums on CRACKING THE DA VINCI CODE  in four different ways:

(1)  Online: By clicking here:

http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/DaVinci/

(2)  Phone:  By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3)  Email: By emailing your order to

<sbacchiocchi@biblicalperspectives.com>. Be sure to provide your  postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.  

(4) Regular Mail: By mailing your check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 4990, USA. We guarantee to process your order immediately.

YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED!

Should we record the highlights of Prof. Jon Paulien’s studies on Revelation in FOUR DVD live lectures?

Prof. Jon Paulien is rightly regarded as a foremost Adventist authority on the book of Revelation. For the past 20 years he has taught the class on “Revelation” to Andrews University Seminary students. Several students have told me that listening to his lectures, is a mind-opening experience.

Until now his popular lectures have been available in five albums, each containing 12 CD disks, for a total of 60 disks (120 lectures). The set is called The Bible Explorer Series on Revelation. Hundreds of sets have been sold in different parts of the world, helping many to appreciate the messages of Revelation for today.

The problem with the current Bible Explorer Series on Revelation is twofold, namely, the time needed to listen to 120 lectures and the high cost of $175.00 for the series.

To make Prof. Paulien’s lectures on Revelation more readily available to interested persons, I have asked him if he would consider preparing FOUR POWERPOINT LECTURES dealing with the major themes and messages of Revelation. These lectures would be video taped at the Media Studio of Andrews University and superimposed on a virtual studio like my latest album Cracking the Da Vinci Code. This would give a more professional look to the lectures, which many people could watch in the comfort of their homes.

Prof. Paulien is very supportive of this project. He is willing to spent two/three months preparing the four powerpoint lectures. The cost of the video taping and editing is over $5000.00. The DVD album with the four lectures would sell for about $50.00.

Before investing so much time and money, I thought it wise to get your feed back: Would you be interested to watch in the comfort of your living room 4 DVD live powerpoint lectures (60 minutes each) by Prof. Jon Paulien? These lectures are guaranted to broaden your understanding and appreciation for the real messages of Revelation for today.

Please let me know how you feel about this project. If we receive at least 100 favorable responses, I will encourage Prof. Paulien to proceed without delay. Otherwise we will shelf this project for the time being.

Incidentally, have you seen Prof. Jon Paulien’s new CD album, which contains more than a dozen of books and scores of articles he has written during the past 20 years of research? You will find this collection a priceless resource to enrich your understanding and experience of biblical truths. Prof. Paulien examines fundamental biblical beliefs in a profound and yet popular way.

You can order Prof. Paulien’s CD album online by clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/PaulienAD/ If you have a problem ordering on line, feel free to call us at 269-471-2915. We guaranty to process your order immediately.

YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED ON ANOTHER PROJECT!

Would you advise me to make a DVD recording of my Christian Lifestyle Seminar?

Lately several churches have invited me to present my powerpoint Christian Lifestyle Seminar. There is growing awareness that many Adventists are loosing their identity by conforming to societal trends in such areas as divorce and remarriage, dress and adornment, social drinking of alcoholic beverages, and rock music for worship.

On each of these areas I have written a major book designed to help us recapture vital biblical teachings for our life today. In my Christian Lifestyle Seminar I share the highlights of my research through the following four powerpoint lectures:

THE MARRIAGE COVENANT

Learn how to build a happy and lasting marriage by following ten biblical principles. This lecture is based on my book The Marriage Covenant.

CHRISTIAN DRESS AND ADORNMENT

Discover seven biblical principles to guide us in following Jesus through our clothes and appearance. This lecture is based on my book Christian Dress and Adornment.

THE CHRISTIAN AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Learn three major reasons why the Bible teaches total abstinence and not moderation in the use of alcoholic beverages. This lecture is based on my book Wine in the Bible.

THE CHRISTIAN AND ROCK MUSIC

Learn about the nature of rock music and the biblical distinction between sacred music for worship and secular music for entertainment. This lecture is based on the symposium by seven scholars (6 musicians with doctoral degrees) entitled The Christian and Rock Music.

Considerable time and effort have gone into preparing these powerpoint lectures which have been well-received in different parts of the world. In each lecture I present not merely my feelings, but primarily the findings published in my books. At this time I am debating whether or not to make a DVD recordings of these four lectures.

Since it is a very expensive project (over $5000.00) to produce a professional DVD album by superimposing each lecture on a virtual studio, I am seeking to find out from you, readers of this Endtime Issues Newsletter, if I should proceed with this DVD recording. Tell me how interested are you in a DVD album containing the four lifestyle powerpoint lectures listed above. Your comments will help me decide whether or not I should proceed with this project.

IS YOUR CHURCH INTERESTED TO INVITE ME TO PRESENT A WEEKEND SEMINAR?

If your church is interested to invite me next year (2007) to present one of my three powerpoint seminars (Sabbath, Second Advent, and Christian Lifestyle), feel free to contact me at this time. I will be glad to email you the outline of each seminar and the cost, which is basically the refund of my travel expenses.

My calendar of speaking engagements for 2007 has still several open weekends, and I would be glad to reserve one weekend for your church. Feel free to contact me by email or phone: (269) 471-2915.

ANDREWS UNIVERSITY ARCHITECTURE MISSIONS GROUP IS BUILDING AROUND THE WORLD

It gives me great pleasure to announce in our Endtime Issues newsletter the recently formed Andrews University Division of Architecture missions program, called, The Architecture Missions Group (AMG). For me it is encouraging to know that finally Adventist Architects are involved in mission projects by designing churches and schools that are more pleasing to the eye. AMG has been created to respond to the numerous demands for international building assistance. The requests for aid are more then the Division’s professors, staff and the student body can handle.

AMG functions as a clearing house for mission projects. One faculty member serves as director and architecture alumni together with other interested professionals are responsible for executing mission projects in different parts of the world. Architecture students are assigned to work with alumni in designing and building the projects.

Let me mention one of their several important projects. Last August 2006, my son, Daniel Bacchiocchi (Andrews University graduate with a B.Arch. ’90), traveled at his own expenses to the Philippines with Donald Startlin, President of the Adventist World Aviation Foundation (AWA), to investigate the building an airbase in Puerto Princesa on the Island of Palawan in the Philippines. Throughout the islands there is a great need for teachers, medical support, and supplies. Programs started several years ago have deteriorated due to lack of air support. An airbase will enable projects to re-open and deploy missionaries to help the islanders. Thus, the AMG together with its alumni, and architecture students, have agreed to develop a master plan for the airstrip, infrastructure, and building needs.

AMG is providing international mission opportunities for all interested. For example, on October 16, 2006, work began in Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico. A group of approximately sixteen AMG volunteers are building a church for a congregation of about 100 fellow believers, who until now have conducted their services out in the open-air. This Christmas AMG has planned two more mission trips to Mexico. One group of volunteers will build an addition to the Monte Cristal SDA Church, and the other group will build an additional three classrooms onto the Vicente Suarez San Nicholas SDA School.

Volunteers are urgently needed for these projects. Whether skilled or not, you are sincerely urged to consider participating in AMG’s upcoming mission projects. Anyone wishing to participate individually or as a family should contact Alexandria Lewis, Executive Missions Coordinator, Monday through Friday 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. EST at (269) 471-9272. Alexandria can also be reached by e-mail at alewis@keystonedevelopment.com.

AMG is appealing also for any financial assistance that you can provide. Please note, all donations will be used exclusively to purchase building materials, unless otherwise instructed by the donor. Donations may be made by checks payable to “Andrews University Division of Architecture AMG” and sent to: Alexandria Lewis, Executive Missions Coordinator, Keystone Development of Michigan, Inc. 4975 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, MI 49103.

Donations may also be made by credit card by calling Mary Nell Rosenboom in the Andrews Development Office at (269) 471-3124. If you call Ms. Rosenboom, be sure to inform her that your donation is for the Architecture Mission Group (AMG) of the Division of Architecture. Do not forget to provide your return address in order to receive a tax deductible receipt. Thank you immensely for your prayers, personal participation, and financial support for these worthy mission projects.

FORTHCOMING VISIT TO SYDNEY AND BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

Our Australian subscribers living in Sydney or Brisbane, will be pleased to learn about my forthcoming visit to their cities. The details of my itinerary are as follows:

November 17-18: PARRAMATTA SDA CHURCH, SYDNEY

Location: 77-81 Hammers Road, Old Toongabbie, Sydney NSW 2146

For information feel free to contact Pastor Rein Muhlberg at (02) 9620 5382 or (02) 9896 3158. I look forward to a great rally. Pastor Muhlberg is a fine pastor who invited me many years ago in Auckland, NZ.

November 19 (Sunday): SYDNEY CHINESE SDA CHURCH

Location: 14a Jersey Road, Strathfield, NSW 2135. For information call Pastor Daniel Chong at 02 9745 4035. I will present a mini version of my Sabbath Seminar from 7:00 to 9:00 p. m.

November 20: Monday 9:00 a. m. – SYDNEY WORKERS’ MEETING

Location: Greater Sydney Conference, 4 Cambridge Street, Epping, NSW 2121, Sydney. For information call the Ministerial Secretary, Pastor Garth Bainbridge at (02) 9868 6522. The meeting is primarily for our GSC workers, but Pastor Bainbridge may be willing to grant you admission, if you first make public confession of all your past sins (Please laugh!).

The plan is for me to present two lectures. The first is entitled “From Sabbath to Sunday: How It Came About.” In this powerpoint presentation I will share the highlights of my research on the change of the Sabbath, done in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University. The second lecture is entitled “The Mark and Number of the Beast.” This powerpoint study examines the various past and present interpretations of the mark and number of the Beast. It is designed to help our pastors and members understand why our Adventist church has moved from the numeric to the symbolic interpretation of 666.

November 24-26: BRISBANE: SABBATH CONFERENCE

Location: Brisbane Adventist College, 303A Broadwater Road, Mansfield, QLD 4122. The Sabbath Conference is co-sponsored by the South Queensland Conference and several sabbatarian churches in the Bribane area. For information feel free to contact Pastor Mark Pierce at 0417625884.

November 27: Monday 9:00 a. m. – BRISBANE WORKERS’ MEETING