I was raised in Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) schools all my life. Over time I became indifferent towards eternal interests because of always hearing the boast, "We are the last, true church. We are the remnant." As a result of this false teaching I did not worry about anything, because when the Latter Rain will be poured out, we will be made ready for the end. It was implied that a certain amount of sinning was inevitable because perfection of character is given to us at the Second Coming of Yahushua.
Yet, I was still afraid that I would perish if I continued sinning. I found no relief from that fear inside the SDA church, so I began listening to Protestant radio programs which helped me partially, but the fear was still there. In 2001, I attended a home church in Cairo where I learned that all denominations have fallen including the SDA church. For the first time ever, I clearly understood that salvation is only possible through accepting the Lamb and following Him in the narrow path which is outside the churches of today. After studying the matter, it became clear that Yahuwah's command is to come out of all false beliefs, taught by the organized churches and not participate in their sins.
| When I first learned about the lunar Sabbath, I did not decide for it or against it. I had learned to always study something out with an open mind before deciding one way or another. |
After having shared the unpopular truth with former friends and family, and they rejected it, then cutting ties with them became a necessity. However, these acquaintances were real obstacles in the way of knowing the truth, so I thank my heavenly Father for removing that load. Losing friends and family is always painful, but the following promise kept me going:
And...Yahushua answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30)
Since 2001 until now, our small home church has decided to accept the truth no matter how much it will cost.
The true Sabbath was introduced to us in August 2009. My first reaction was not against it or for it. In the home church we learned that we should study first then decide whatever was being proposed to us. The last battle will be over the mark of the beast or the seal of Yahuwah, the Sabbath. Since I do not want to receive the mark of the beast and transgress against my Maker, I studied the newly introduced belief like never before. The more I studied, the more I was convinced from the Biblical weight of evidence that this was indeed the truth. Some of the church members and also some from the WLC team have left us and clung to Saturday. However, that did not matter because in matters of truth everyone has to stand alone.
Here are some of the evidences that have established me in accepting the true Sabbath:
1) The many incidents in the Bible (Old and New Testaments) where the Sabbath fell only on 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th of the lunar month. These occurrences cannot be mere chances. Also these unique occurrences cannot happen on any other calendar today or in the past. 2) The crucifixion date in April 25, A.D 31 and October 22, 1844 prove that the true Sabbath can be found only on the Bible Calendar not the Gregorian one. 3) I became more established in this new light after seeing the unscriptural desperate attacks on the true Sabbath from SDA ministers and members. They could not prove from the Bible alone that Saturday was the Sabbath, nor could they ascertain that the weekly cycle has run uninterrupted since creation. They could not defend their belief in October 22, 1844 and in April 25, 31 A.D. since these very dates prove that the current Saturday is not the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. My doubting questions about the new light have been answered:
1) Why didn't Sister White know about this? Sister White told us in her writings that the Sabbath will be declared more fully in the last days. She never told us that Yahuwah told her that Saturday was the biblical Sabbath. She also informed us that it is very wrong to suppose that all of our current beliefs are without an error.
2) The weekly cycle? The Bible does not support an uninterrupted weekly cycle because there is a day called "new moon day" which is not part of the seven day week.
3) How come the Jews got confused about the Sabbath? The Jews themselves have changed their calendar in the 4th century under High Priest Hillel II. The truth is that the Jews should not be our reference when to it comes to matters of faith, for they have crucified the Saviour; the Master of the Sabbath.
I am very thankful to my heavenly Father and my Saviour for giving me a chance to know this saving truth. This truth is the key to victory in the final conflict. I am also very thankful for the privilege of being able to share this unique truth with the Arabic speaking people on WLC's Arabic sister site, inzar.com.