ASKING GOD: Is the Seventh Day the Sabbath?
God, do you have a special day of rest for your followers or is every day alike?
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” Rev. 1: 10
But which day is the Lord’s Day? Which day is He (God) Lord of?
“The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.” Matt. 12: 8
There are seven days of the week. Which day is the Sabbath day?
“The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” (The Fourth Commandment Ex. 20: 8)
Which day according to our reckoning, is the seventh day? Saturday or Sunday?
“And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he says unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” Mark 16: 1-6.
Sunday was the resurrection day. The Sabbath was past when it dawned. Thus, it is evident that the Sabbath is Saturday, the day before Sunday.
But, Lord, didn’t you abolish the law which contains the Sabbath Commandment?
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matt. 5: 17
Well at least, didn’t you change one of the Commandments so that today your followers may keep another day?
“Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you that not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen. Matt. 5: 18
But Lord, isn’t Saturday a Jewish Day? Isn’t the seventh day the Sabbath of the Jews?
“The Sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2: 27
The Sabbath was made and given to man in the Garden of Eden, 2500 years before the existence of a Jew.
“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
I was told that after the crucifixion, your followers no longer kept the seventh-day Sabbath according to the Commandment. Is this true?
“And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.” Luke 23: 54-56
But didn’t the Apostle Paul always meet with the early Christians on Sunday in honor of the Resurrection?
“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.” Acts 17: 2
Perhaps he met with the Jews on the Sabbath and the Gentiles on Sunday? What about that?
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” Acts 18:4
What did Paul teach in regard to Sabbath keeping?
“There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, He also hath ceased from His own works, as God did from His.” Hebrews 4: 9-10
But which day did Paul mean when he spoke of resting as God did?
“For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” Hebrews 4:4
In the New Testament there are no less than 59 references to the Sabbath. The book of Acts records 84 Sabbaths on which the Apostle Paul and his associates held religious services. Yet there is not one word in the Bible authorizing Sunday keeping.
Why do so many people keep Sunday instead of Sabbath Saturday? If the Bible teaches Sabbath keeping, how and by whom was Sunday keeping started?
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7: 25
The Roman Catholic Church is the little horn power of Daniel 7. Does it think it has power to change the law of God?
“Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week, a change for which there is no scriptural authority.” Stephen Keenan, RC Priest, Doctrinal Catechism, p. 174
When was this change made?
“We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea (364 AD) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” Peter Geirmann, The Converts Catechism, p. 50. (This catechism blessed by Pope January 25, 1910.)
Do Protestant ministers agree with this?
Congregationalist: “It is quite clear that however rigidly or devotedly we may spend Sunday, we are NOT keeping the Sabbath.” Dr. R.W. Dale, The Ten Commandments, p. 106
Methodist: Sabbath in the Hebrew language signifies rest and is the seventh day of the week…it must be confessed that there is no law in the New Testament concerning the first day.” Buck’s Theological Dictionary
Baptist: “There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week…Where can the record of such a transfer be found? Not in the New Testament—absolutely not…Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history… But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of paganism, and christened with the name of the sun god, when adopted and sanctioned by the Papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism.” Dr. E T Hiscox, author of the Baptist Manual
What difference does it make which day I keep? A day is a day isn’t it?
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6: 16
Then what shall I do, obey the Sabbath of God’s Commandment of keep the Sunday of man?
“We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5: 29
Well Lord, What do you think of Sunday keeping?
“Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition… But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15: 6,9
But surely the billions of people who keep Sunday can’t be wrong, can they?
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7: 13, 14. Only a few obeyed in the days of Noah, in the days of Lot, in the days of Christ. Unfortunately, the majority made a choice to be lost.
But I heard this charismatic, successful preacher on television. Why doesn’t he and all the great preachers keep the Sabbath?
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” 1 Corinthians 1: 26, 27
The great religious teachers in Christ’s day rejected the truth also. His followers were of the common people.
But I have accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. He has accepted me and I have been keeping Sunday. Surely I would be lost if I did not keep the Sabbath now, would I?
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Acts 17: 30
I know you Lord, you wouldn’t condemn me for breaking of the Sabbath would you?
“He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2: 4
But isn’t it sufficient that I love the Lord and live by the law of love?
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14: 15
Does that mean all ten of them?
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2: 10
Well, I think that if we try to follow Jesus, that is all that is necessary. Isn’t that right?
“He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2: 6
What was your custom regarding the Sabbath?
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Luke 4: 16
But, Lord, that was almost 2000 years ago. Wouldn’t you keep some other day than Saturday if you should come to the earth today?
“I am the Lord, I change not.” Mal. 3: 6
“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever.” Hebrews 5: 9
Is it absolutely necessary to keep the Commandments?
“If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19: 17
But Lord why do you insist on the seventh day?
“God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.” Gen. 2: 3
“He hath blessed and I can not reverse it.” Num. 23: 30
Well, I think if I keep any one in seven, regardless of which one, that ought to be good enough.
“There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 16: 25
“Spiritual things ……are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2: 13, 14
But Lord! Can’t I do something else? Won’t my prayers and my profession get me to heaven?
“Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7: 21
But I pray.
“He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. 28: 9
But Lord, look at the people who work miracles. Some heal the sick, others talk in tongues; yet they do not keep the Sabbath. What about them?
“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7: 22,23
Yes, I know the Sabbath is right, but my business would suffer if I closed on Sabbath. I might lose my job.
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Mark 8: 36
But what about my family? Wouldn’t it be better to work on Sabbath that to have my family suffer hardship?
“(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6: 32-33
My friends will laugh at me and ridicule me.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt. 5: 11, 12
“If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.” John 15: 18
If my family doesn’t agree, should I cause a division in my home?
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matt. 10: 37, 38
“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” Luke 14: 33
I am afraid. I am too weak to stand these trials.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 1 Cor. 12: 9,10
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Phil. 4: 13
Lord, I’m looking forward to a home in the earth made new, will we keep the Sabbath there, too?
“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: 22, 23
Remember….
“The Catholic Church for over 100 thousand years before the existence of a Protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday.” Catholic Mirror September 1893
“Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.” C F Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons
“The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay in spite of themselves to the authority of the Catholic Church.” Plain Talk for Protestants, page 213
The SIGN between God and His people.
“Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.” Ezekiel 20:20