Even just a cursory study (as I just did to refresh my memory and order my thoughts) will bear out what history teaches and how we have come to the point that we have. A few basic facts set the stage for what the controversy is all about.

I've shared this before so this is not "new". We are talking about the Passion week which included the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened bread and the six days that followed--the first and last days being Annual Sabbaths as opposed to weekly Sabbaths. The Annual Sabbaths were based on Lunar Events, whereas the weekly Sabbath occurred every seventh day on the day simply called 7th day and became known as Shabbat or Saturday of each week.

The Passover DAY (the day before the Feast of unleavened bread) was NOT a Sabbath by law. However, history has shown that the practices involved were lost at various times in antiquity. For a long time it was assumed that the Feast was only seven days in length. It is now correctly understood to be eight. The entire eight days involved the preparation and use of unleavened bread--primarily because of the imminent possibility of freedom. The first two days, Passover and the Feast allowed no work to be done--even though ONE was a Sabbath. Over time, it became TRADITIONAL to treat Passover as a Sabbath because of the similarities in observing it. The significance of this becomes apparent when the whole story is put together as a "sign".

A very, very important aspect of this story (one that is CENTRAL to understanding how to make sense of all the confusion) is the understanding of what "at even" means, what "between the evenings" means; and what history has shown it has meant to be under varying conditions. To put it into a nutshell without getting deep into it, in conservative times it was STRICTLY a period from the onset of darkness (twilight) to full darkness. Typically, this was about 30 minutes. During this period, WORK could be legally done concerning the onset of Sabbath. This was the period that Jesus was taken from the cross and laid in the tomb--just before Passover legally, but literally ON the Passover. The REAL problem arises on the NEXT day which WAS a LEGAL Sabbath (the Lunar one), there was simply no time to properly prepare the body for burial. The following day after that was the Weekly Seventh-day Sabbath and the same short period "between the evenings". This time, however, the tomb had been sealed shut.

To make a long story short, Jesus rested for one TRADITIONAL Sabbath, one LUNAR Sabbath and one Weekly Sabbath. He was laid in the grave "between the evenings" and He rose three days and three nights later "between the evenings". He never rose on Sunday because Astronomy has proven without a doubt that Passover that week fell "at even" on Thursday (Wednesday evening) and spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the "heart of the earth. This whole problem with the confusion revolved completly around the "set in stone" fallacy that Jesus was crucified on Friday. This has been a deliberate lie and a CONSPIRACY to muddy the issues so that a LAW of God could be changed by virtue of TRADITION ALONE and NOT by virtue of Scriptural authority.

Without this one SIGN of the value and efficacy of the Sabbath in the scheme of things which are central to understanding the Kingdom of God--not just according to the Fourth Commandment concerning the identity of the Creator, not just to identify the day of rest, not just to be the "mark" or "seal" of God's authority--but to outline the ONE PATH through the Sanctuary Service that shows without a doubt the CERTAINTY and ASSURANCE of SUCCESS of salvation and immortality via conquering time and space through the means revealed along the pathway. this can be achieved in only ONE way. ALL other paths are false and spurious. It is not just coincidence that this past week, the Pope of Rome specifically pointed out the current DANGER represented by the Seventh Day Adventist church in its evangelistic success. Though it is currently in a Laodicean condition, it will not always be so. Though it is not giving the Loud Cry as it should, when persecution raises its head as it currently is, it will grow into a world-wide movement and many of you here will join in with the messages of the angels--regardless of the danger. The "sign" is just what it is intended to be--a signpost along the way that points in the right direction.

There are many here who are awakened and aware. All that is needed is the right information to make right decisions. It's decision time and many are feeling it. I would assume that many feel the way I did--unholy, unrighteous, unprepared, UNABLE to take the next IMPORTANT steps required to "stand on Holy Ground".

Even now, I question the relevance and practical benefits of what the Kingdom of God seems to be teaching us. There is power in unity and unity is what we desperately need. This can only be achieved by a chain of truth that is unassailable from any direction. It is foretold that it would happen, and I believe that it is happening right now, right here. I've seen intimations of it in many places. I am even heartened and embolded by the LACK OF ANY KIND OF RESPONSE to this thread. This could be for a variety of reasons, of course, but I like to believe that it is for all the right ones.

For the Seventh Day Adventist, events are scary and hitting too close to home. Almost ALL of the "signs" are currently in place and it could go into overdrive at any moment. For many, what can be done NOW in a time of relative peace, will have to be done later under the worst of conditions. Sooner than later, we will hear these words and in a moment, it will be upon us: "Fear God and give HIM glory--for the HOUR of His Judgemnt IS COME." For the longest time, I have been feeling the pull of going over threshold and through the door into the Most Holy Place--boldly going to the Throne of God and SEEKING judgement. In some ways, I already have. I know that many others have as well, including many here.

In the words of another scientist, in the end all the pretty pictures, the mathematical symbols, and the other methods of measurement that determinine our reality--simply will not fly. I want to fly.