Some proponents of the
lunar Sabbath theory use the following
argument in support of their idea. The
argument is based on a paragraph appearing
in the 1883 Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook.
This is what it states:
"Those who disbelieve in the seventh-day
Sabbath bring against it numerous
objections, all of which are readily
answered with the exception of one, –THE
CROSS. This is the great, the unanswerable
objection to the Bible Sabbath."
Source:
http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/YB/YB1883.pdf#view=fit
Lunar Sabbath promoters interpret this
statement in the following way:
“In 1883, the Seventh-day
Adventist Church admitted that the
crucifixion date discrepancy was the one
unanswerable objection to worshiping on
Saturday, but they did not know how to
resolve it.” Source:
http://www.thecreatorscalendar.com/art_unanswer.html
The assumption made in
the above quote is very clear. It is
assumed that “the cross” spoken of is
referring to “the crucifixion”, but this is
not stated in the Yearbook at all. The
argument is built on this assumed
conclusion.
Is such a conclusion
correct? What did the pioneers really mean
by that statement? What does “the cross”
refer to?
The answer to these
questions, and this “objection”, is really
very simple. The cross spoken of is the
cross of obedience not the
cross on which Christ died! Anyone familiar
with the writing style of the Seventh-day
Adventist pioneers will readily recognize
this fact. Let us look at a few sample
statements that will demonstrate this fact
clearly.
The Lord Jesus Christ
Himself taught us that “cross” does not
always refer to the crucifixion. Notice the
following:
Matthew 10:38 And he
that taketh not his cross, and
followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Matthew 16:24 Then said
Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow me.
Any Bible student knows
that the cross spoken of here is the cross
of obedience and self denial.
The word “cross” is used by Christ as a
symbol for the self sacrifice that will be
required by his followers. This is
the unanswerable objection to the Sabbath
(i.e. The fact that it involves a cross). It
is unanswerable because the answer for it
lies in the decision of each person. Will
they obey by taking up the cross or will
they refuse to do so?
Notice how this is
further confirmed from the Spirit of
Prophecy:
