The Sabbath
(Heb verb shabbath, meaning "to rest from labour"), the day of rest. It is first mentioned as having been instituted in Paradise, when man was in innocence (Ge 2:2). "The sabbath was made for man," as a day of rest and refreshment for the body and of blessing to the soul.
It is next referred to in connection with the gift of manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness (Ex 16:23); and afterwards, when the law was given from Sinai (Ex 20:11), the people were solemnly charged to "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." Thus it is spoken of as an institution already existing.
In the Mosaic law strict regulations were laid down regarding its observance (Ex 35:2-3; Le 23:3; 26:34). These were peculiar to that dispensation.
In the subsequent history of the Jews frequent references are made to the sanctity of the Sabbath (Isa 56:2,4,6-7; 58:13-14; Jer 17:20-22; Ne 13:19). In later times they perverted the Sabbath by their traditions. Our Lord rescued it from their perversions, and recalled to them its true nature and intent (Mt 12:10-13; Mr 2:27; Lu 13:10-17).
The Sabbath, originally instituted for man at his creation, is of permanent and universal obligation. The physical necessities of man require a Sabbath of rest. He is so constituted that his bodily welfare needs at least one day in seven for rest from ordinary labour. Experience also proves that the moral and spiritual necessities of men also demand a Sabbath of rest. "I am more and more sure by experience that the reason for the observance of the Sabbath lies deep in the everlasting necessities of human nature, and that as long as man is man the blessedness of keeping it, not as a day of rest only, but as a day of spiritual rest, will never be annulled. I certainly do feel by experience the eternal obligation, because of the eternal necessity, of the Sabbath. The soul withers without it. It thrives in proportion to its observance. The Sabbath was made for man. God made it for men in a certain spiritual state because they needed it. The need, therefore, is deeply hidden in human nature. He who can dispense with it must be holy and spiritual indeed. And he who, still unholy and unspiritual, would yet dispense with it is a man that would fain be wiser than his Maker" (F. W. Robertson).
The ancient Babylonian calendar, as seen from recently recovered inscriptions on the bricks among the ruins of the royal palace, was based on the division of time into weeks of seven days. The Sabbath is in these inscriptions designated Sabattu, and defined as "a day of rest for the heart" and "a day of completion of labour."
The change of the day. Originally at creation the seventh day of the week was set apart and consecrated as the Sabbath. The first day of the week is now observed as the Sabbath. Has God authorized this change? There is an obvious distinction between the Sabbath as an institution and the particular day set apart for its observance. The question, therefore, as to the change of the day in no way affects the perpetual obligation of the Sabbath as an institution. Change of the day or no change, the Sabbath remains as a sacred institution the same. It cannot be abrogated.
If any change of the day has been made, it must have been by Christ or by his authority. Christ has a right to make such a change (Mr 2:23-28). As Creator, Christ was the original Lord of the Sabbath (Joh 1:3; Heb 1:10). It was originally a memorial of creation. A work vastly greater than that of creation has now been accomplished by him, the work of redemption. We would naturally expect just such a change as would make the Sabbath a memorial of that greater work.
True, we can give no text authorizing the change in so many words. We have no express law declaring the change. But there are evidences of another kind. We know for a fact that the first day of the week has been observed from apostolic times, and the necessary conclusion is, that it was observed by the apostles and their immediate disciples. This, we may be sure, they never would have done without the permission or the authority of their Lord.
After his resurrection, which took place on the first day of the week (">Mt 28:1; Mr 16:2; Lu 24:1; Joh 20:1), we never find Christ meeting with his disciples on the seventh day. But he specially honoured the first day by manifesting himself to them on four separate occasions (Mt 28:9; Lu 24:34,18-33; Joh 20:19-23). Again, on the next first day of the week, Jesus appeared to his disciples (Joh 20:26).
Some have calculated that Christ's ascension took place on the first day of the week. And there can be no doubt that the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost was on that day (Ac 2:1). Thus Christ appears as instituting a new day to be observed by his people as the Sabbath, a day to be henceforth known amongst them as the "Lord's day." The observance of this "Lord's day" as the Sabbath was the general custom of the primitive churches, and must have had apostolic sanction (comp. Ac 20:3-7; 1Co 16:1-2) and authority, and so the sanction and authority of Jesus Christ.
The words "at her sabbaths" (La 1:7, A.V.) ought probably to be, as in the Revised Version, "at her desolations."
Isa 58:14
v13,14 The sabbath is a sign between God and his professing people; his appointing it is a sign of his favour to them; and their observing it is a sign of their obedience to him. We must turn from travelling on that day; from doing our pleasure on that holy day, without the control and restraint of conscience; or from indulging in the pleasures of sense. On sabbath days we must not follow our callings, or our pleasures. In all we say and do, we must put a difference between this day and other days. Even in Old Testament times the sabbath was called the Lord's day, and is fitly called so still; and for a further reason, it is the Lord Christ's day, Re 1:10. If we thus remember the sabbath day to keep it holy, we shall have the comfort and profit of it, and have reason to say, It is good to draw near to God.
Remember The Sabbath Day
"Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done." (Genesis 2:1-3)
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to The Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days The Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20:8-11)
"Then The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe My Sabbaths. This will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I Am The Lord, Who makes you holy. "'Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to The Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between Me and the Israelites forever, for in six days The Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He abstained from work and rested.'" (Exodus 31:12-17)
"They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at His teaching, because He taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law." (Mark 1:21-22)
"From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak." (Acts 13:13-15)
"As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear The Word of The Lord." (Acts 13:42-44)
"They will proclaim My Glory among the nations. And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to My holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to The Lord - on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels," says The Lord. "They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to The Temple of The Lord in ceremonially clean vessels. And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites," says The Lord. "As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before Me," declares The Lord, "so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before Me," says The Lord." (Isaiah 66:19-23) (see The Kingdom of God)
God say that the Sabbath was an identifying sign between The Creator and His people forever.
Exodus 31:17
What Jesus Christ says to those who believe the Satanic lie that God's Law was "done away" by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God:
"Think not that I am come to destroy the Law" (Matthew 5:17 KJV)
What the Christian apostle John says to those who believe the Satanic lie that Christians don't have to obey God's Ten Commandments:
"And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him." (1 John 2:3-5 KJV)
After the return of Jesus Christ, everyone will be observing God's Ten Commandments, as made plain in this future reference to the Fourth Commandment, God's seventh-day Sabbath:
"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith The Lord" (Isaiah 66:23 KJV)
Christ's sacrifice was made for truly repentant people, those who live by God's Laws of Liberty, the Ten Commandments ("whoso looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed," James 1:25 KJV). Self-righteous, unrepentant people who refuse to obey God's Ten Commandments are not going to be saved - they are going to be incinerated in the lake of fire.
"Blessed are they that do His Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (Revelation 22:14-15 KJV)
"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith The Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear My Name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith The Lord" (Malachi 4:1-3 KJV)
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of The Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days The Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore The Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:8-11 KJV)
The Sabbath Day, and only the Sabbath Day, was made Holy by God at the time of Creation.
"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all His work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:1-3 KJV)
The Sabbath Day is God's Holy Day; it is not the invention, or property of, Jews or Sabbath-keeping Christians. It is God's Holy Day:
"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My Holy Day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of The Lord, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in The Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of The Lord hath spoken it." (Isaiah 58:13-14 KJV)
The Sabbath Day is an identifying sign; it identifies the only true God, the Creator, and it identifies His true people (although Sabbath-keeping alone is not enough - there are many who are Sabbath keepers who are not The Elect):
"And I gave them My statutes, and showed them My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am The Lord that sanctify them" (Ezekiel 20:11-12 KJV)
The Sabbath Day is not the "Jewish Sabbath," it is God's Sabbath. Jesus Christ, the greatest "Christian" of all, observed the Sabbath Day, and only the Sabbath Day (the pagan Roman "sun day" did already exist at that time, but Jesus Christ, and the apostles, and the early church, were all Sabbath keepers - they would never have observed the heathen "sun-worship day"):
"And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught." (Mark 1:21 KJV)
"And when the Sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?" (Mark 6:2 KJV)
Christians continued to observe the Sabbath after Christ's sacrifice:
"And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God" (Acts 13:42-44 KJV)
The seventh day never stopped being God's Sabbath. It has always been observed by Christians who base their Christianity on the Word of God, the Holy Bible, and it will always be observed into the future. After The Return Of Jesus Christ, all people, of all nations, will learn (the easy way, or the hard way - their choice, and yours) to observe God's weekly Sabbath:
"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith The Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith The Lord" (Isaiah 66:22-23 KJV)
God's Calendar and The Pagan Calendar
Today, the names that are used for the days of the week are all named after the sun, moon, or pagan gods. Sunday ("sun" day), Monday ("moon" day), Tuesday ("Tiwe's" day), Wednesday ("Woden's" day), Thursday ("Thor's" day), Friday ("Frie's" day) and Saturday ("Saturn's" day) are all pagan in origin.
Throughout The Bible, the days of the week were identified by number, from first to seventh. Only the seventh day was given a name, the Sabbath:
As well, any day prior to a Sabbath, whether the regular weekly seventh-day Sabbath, or any of the annual Sabbaths (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) was designated as a "Preparation day."
Sabbath To "Sun"day
The Fourth Commandment is to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. All of the righteous people of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, including Jesus Christ Himself (e.g. Luke 4:16), observed the Sabbath. No where in the Bible, including after Christ's resurrection, will you find people observing the first day of the week, Sunday, as a replacement for the Sabbath.
This reality was freely admitted by Roman Catholic Cardinal Gibbon in his Faith Of Our Fathers: "But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify."
So, why do so many Christian-professing churches use Sunday for the Sabbath? And the big question, should they be doing so?
An Unjustifiable Justification
Essentially, Sunday worship is supposedly justified because of the assumption that Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week. Without a Sunday resurrection, there is no justification what-so-ever for observing Sunday as a day of Christian worship, as Sunday-keeping theologians readily admit.
But, was Christ resurrected on a Sunday?
We know that Christ was crucified on the day before a Sabbath, the "preparation" day (e.g. Mark 15:42). Many have assumed that meant Friday, and commonly refer to it as "Good Friday." But the Bible record doesn't say that He was crucified on the day before the regular weekly Sabbath. He was crucified before the annual Sabbath, the Passover (i.e. John 19:14). That preparation day was not a Friday. "Good Friday" never happened.
Further, Christ said that the only proof that He was the Messiah was that He would be in the tomb for 3 days and 3 nights (Matthew 12:39-40), which is 72 hours. Friday afternoon to Sunday morning is barely 36 hours, only 2 nights and 1 day. Friday to Sunday doesn't work. If someone deliberately shortchanged you like that at the supermarket, you could have them arrested.
The chart below illustrates the difference (Note: Biblical days begin and end at sunset).
When Peter, John and Mary of Magdala arrived at the tomb early that Sunday morning, the resurrection had already occurred. It was long before sunrise because it was still dark, but the tomb was then already empty. (John 20:1).
We know that Christ was placed in the tomb in late afternoon near sunset (Matthew 27:57), and would arise 72 hours later as He said. He would therefore have arisen also on a late afternoon, near sunset, 3 days later. Since He was already gone by Sunday morning, He had to have arisen the previous afternoon near sunset, on Saturday, not Sunday.
The crucifixion was on a Wednesday afternoon, with the burial just before sunset, and the resurrection was on the Sabbath afternoon just before sunset. The seventh day, not the first. Jesus Christ was not resurrected on a Sunday morning, or at any time during a Sunday. Worship on the first day of the week cannot be justified by the facts. It doesn't have a leg to stand on.
Who Decided On Sunday?
As already stated, Sunday worship did not originate in the Bible, or in the reality of the events of the crucifixion and resurrection. All of the first Christians, including Peter, Paul, all of the apostles, Mary and Joseph, all of the people who wrote the Bible, and Jesus Christ Himself were seventh-day Sabbath keepers. All of them.
So, where did Sunday worship come from?
Gradually, the Roman empire that persecuted Christians began to adopt Christianity, or rather, its own self-serving version of Christianity, which was a blend of politics and religion, a little truth, but mostly outright Roman paganism - which included worship of the Roman sun god. Sunday worship came about as a pagan corruption of God's holy seventh-day Sabbath.
By the fourth century, only Jews (by then, God's Sabbath was becoming known as the "Jewish" Sabbath), and a relatively few true Christians, continued to observe the seventh-day Sabbath as God commanded everyone. There is only one true God, and one true Sabbath.
In 321, the Roman emperor Constantine issued an edict which outlawed work on the "venerable day of the sun," Sunday, and within 3 years the corrupted version of Christianity had become the official religion of the Roman empire. From that, the Roman Catholic Church, and its many Protestant daughter churches, got the commonly-accepted Sunday observance of today - utterly pagan in origin, and completely contrary to God's command.