The Sabbath was hallowed at the creation. As ordained for [humanity], it had its origin when “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” Job 38:7.¹ Peace brooded over the world; for earth was in harmony with heaven. “God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good”; and He rested in the joy of His completed work. Genesis 1:31.

Because He had rested upon the Sabbath, “God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it”—set it apart to a holy use. He gave it to Adam as a day of rest. It was a memorial of the work of creation, and thus a sign of God’s power and His love. The Scripture says, “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered.” “The things that are made” declare “the invisible things of him since the creation of the world,” “even His everlasting power and divinity.” Genesis 2:3; Psalm 111:4; Romans 1:20, RV.2. . .

Since the Sabbath is a memorial of the work of creation, it is a token of the love and power of Christ.

The Sabbath calls our thoughts to nature, and brings us into communion with the Creator. In the song of the bird, the sighing of the trees, and the music of the sea, we still may hear His voice who talked with Adam in Eden in the cool of the day. And as we behold His power in nature we find comfort, for the word that created all things is that which speaks life to the soul. . . .

The Sabbath was embodied in the law given from Sinai; but it was not then first made known as a day of rest. The people of Israel had a knowledge of it before they came to Sinai. On the way thither the Sabbath was kept. When some profaned it, the Lord reproved them, saying, “How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?” Exodus 16:28. . . .

The Sabbath was not for Israel merely, but for the world. It had been made known to man in Eden, and, like the other precepts of the Decalogue, it is of imperishable obligation. Of that law of which the fourth commandment forms a part, Christ declares, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.” So long as the heavens and the earth endure, the Sabbath will continue as a sign of the Creator’s power. And when Eden shall bloom on earth again, God’s holy rest day will be honored by all beneath the sun. “From one sabbath to another” the inhabitants of the glorified new earth shall go up “to worship before me, saith the Lord.” Matthew 5:18; Isaiah 66:23. . . .

But in order to keep the Sabbath holy, [men and women] must themselves be holy. Through faith they must become partakers of the righteousness of Christ.

1. Unless otherwise noted, Bible texts are from the King James Version.
2. Texts marked RV are from The Holy Bible, Revised Version, Oxford University Press, 1911.

This excerpt is taken from The Desire of Ages, pages 281-283. Seventh-day Adventists believe that Ellen G. White (1827-1915) exercised the biblical gift of prophecy during more than 70 years of public ministry.