How China Almost Became a Sabbath-keeping Nation! (Part 1)

by Leon J. Lyell

“In southern China in the late 1840’s a unique brand of Christianity emerged — the Taiping Movement. Millions accepted its leadership, but foreign “Christian” missionaries rejected it. The Taipings revered the Torah and adopted the seventh-day Sabbath! This is the story of one man’s search for God. It is the corruption of that search by the counsel of politically motivated associates. It is also the story of an attempt to bring a better life to the people of China and how that quest was thwarted. Who were the Taipings? Is it easier for us to see their mistakes than our own? What might the world be like today if they had been successful?

Many regard China as a homogenous society, which has existed in monolithic security for millennia. Such is not the case. In many ways it can be compared to Europe as both “nations” encompass many cultural and dialect groups, which while related are not homogenous. Recent research supports the view that the various Chinese “dialects” are more like separate languages than is commonly supposed.

Many may be surprised to learn that Confucius (551- 479 BC), who worked for the King of Zhou as an advisor on good government, decried the “barbarians” outside of his own province. The parallel in European history would be the traditional animosity between various European “countries.” The major difference in this regard is that Europe has never been able to sustain forced “unification” for long…”

(this article is an excerpt from the Sept-Oct 2001 edition of the Sabbath Sentinel)

To read the rest of this article, which starts on page 11, click this link: https://biblesabbath.org/tss/491/tss_491.pdf