THE SABBATH DAY:

THE FIRST DAY (SUNDAY)

OR THE SEVENTH DAY (SATURDAY)?

Every Sunday millions upon millions of people all over the world attend church services. To most it's an automatic occurrence and they have never given their actions a second thought. It probably would seem blasphemous for these people to change their day of worship. After all, this is the way of the world and has been so for some time. Nevertheless, the bible say that Satan have deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9).

Many people fail to realize that Sunday is the first day of the week. This ignorance is due to the fact that Monday is the first work/school day in most countries. However, Sunday is actually the first day of the week and Saturday is the seventh day. Any calendar, dictionary or encyclopedia will prove this fact.

Some will argue that it's impossible to know which day is which. They believe the days have changed over time. However, the bible speaks of a seven day week and we still live according to this rule today. This is no accident. Past nations have even tried to shorten and lengthen God's weekly institution, but of course they failed. Man has also come up with names (after pagan gods) for the days, but it is no coincidence that each day is still known by it's perspective number (1-7). God has not allowed the days of the week to be altered over the centuries. Even during the sixteenth century when the world adopted our present calendar, the Gregorian, the days of the week did not change.

Others will say that it really doesn't matter what day you attend church. "You should worship God everyday" or "everyday is the sabbath day," they will zealously proclaim. Well, why has the world set aside Sunday as it's day of worship (there is a reason, which we will discuss later) instead of any and every day? Sure you should do good and think about God everyday, but everyday cannot be the sabbath day. God in his wisdom knew that man would be consumed with his daily activities. Therefore, he set one day aside for man to come together and worship him. The sabbath begins at sundown Friday and last until sundown Saturday. (Each day starts in the evening, instead of at midnight, "and the evening and morning were the fifth day" Genesis 1:23). The entire bible stresses that it is of utmost importance that we observe (attend church) the Lord's sabbath, the seventh (7th) day. It really does matter.

"Saturday is the seventh day" (World Book Encyclopedia,

Volume 17, 1989 Edition)

Man realizes the importance of setting one day aside to worship God. Nevertheless, he has tried to change God's set time and law of Sabbath worship. "And he shall speak great words against the most High...and think to change times and laws..." (Daniel 7:25). This change went into effect on March 7, 321 A.D., by Emperor Constantine of Rome. Constantine, "...enjoined Sunday rest from labor, except agricultural" (Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 21, 1945). It is even recorded that Constantine used violence to enforce his new law, because the seventh day sabbath was still being observed by true servants of God. Now if it would seem blasphemous for people to change their day of worship today, how do you think God felt when man changed his?

Many religious leaders realize that the days of the week have not changed. They claim that the sabbath day changed from the seventh day (Saturday) to the first day (Sunday) in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus. This theory, along with Constantine's  law, is the reason why most of the world has adopted Sunday as the new sabbath. Nevertheless, not one preacher or Constantine has ever substantiated this claim with the holy bible.

Another common theory is "Saturday is the Jewish sabbath and Sunday is the Christian sabbath." However, the bible speaks of only one sabbath, the seventh day, and it is called The Lord's Sabbath. "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; Ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings" (Leviticus 23:3). There was no Christian or Jew when God instituted his sabbath. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested..." (Genesis 2:3). Adam and Eve (created on the sixth day) were the only people around when God rested on the seventh day.

This day continued to be special to God and over two thousand years later he ordered man to observe it (Exodus 20:8-11). Yes the Lord truly intends for man to follow the example he set by honoring the seventh day. Therefore, he included it in his "ten commandments." Observing the sabbath is just as important as "thou shalt not kill" and "thou shalt not steal" (Exodus 20:13,15). You cannot delete, change, or choose to obey one law over another. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). Remember, they are not called the nine commandments. Though he has tried man cannot change the law of the Almighty and "Judgment day" will prove this.

Jesus warned us about breaking the commandments of God to honor our own traditions (Matthew 15:3-6). This is what we are doing by observing Sunday worship instead of God's fourth commandment. We claim to be worshipping the Lord, but Jesus declared, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). Honoring the seventh day is a commandment of God from the beginning, while honoring the first day is a commandment of man from 321 A.D. Choose Life and live.

Just like adultery, dishonoring the sabbath was punishable by death (Exodus 31:14-15 and Numbers 15:32-36). There is no way we will escape if we ignore it. Honoring the sabbath is an everlasing sign for true worshippers of God. "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever..." (Exodus 31:17). True sabbath worship sets us apart or sanctifies us from the rest of the world.

Many think the sabbath is only for Israel. However, God is the God of all people. I ask you is "thou shalt not kill" only for Israel? NO! The Lord chose to reveal all of his laws to Israel, that through Israel they might be revealed to the whole world. Therefore, God's sabbath is for everybody to observe, "Also, the sons of the stranger (non-Israelite), that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, everyone that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it...even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer..." (Isaiah 56:6-7). So just as any and everyone will get punished for breaking the sabbath, any and everyone will get blessed for observing it.

During the days of the apostles the Gentiles recognized that they had to observe the seventh day sabbath. "And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath day" (Acts 13:42). These people did not try to come up with their own sabbath, but instead honored the Lord's sabbath which he had given to Israel. Later, Paul not only persuaded the Jews, but the Greeks also "every sabbath" (Acts 18:4). Therefore, the apostles and the newly converted Gentiles all observed the seventh day sabbath. As we have already pointed out it was not until the 4th Century A.D. that the Gentiles changed the sabbath to Sunday. However, if the sabbath had changed after the resurrection of Jesus, Paul and those who were first called Christians would not have continued to observe it. "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures" (Acts 17:2). In all the traveling that Paul did he still found time to keep the sabbath and other holy days.

Some attempt to twist the scriptures (woe unto them) to support their theory that the sabbath changed. Paul's preaching, breaking bread, and gathering collections on the first day does not change the sabbath (Acts 20:7 and I Corinthians 16:2). Any minister today will preach, eat with friends and receive donations on any day of the week. Furthermore, calling Sunday "The Lord's Day" does not change the sabbath either. Actually, "The Lord's Day" is not Sunday or Saturday, but a period of time immediately following the "Great Tribulation." This is when God will begin to punish the world for our evil. This day is also known as "The Day of the Lord." The prophet Joel and the apostle John both saw and spoke about this terrible day (Joel 2:1-11 and Revelation 1:10).

None of these scriptures do away with God's seventh day sabbath. If the Lord wanted to change his sabbath, he would have told us plainly. After all he told us plainly 'remember the sabbath day to keep it Holy." Yes, the seventh day is holy to the Lord (Nehemiah 9:14). How can you do away with or change that which is holy? The sabbath is still the seventh day and the first day is merely the first day. "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week..." (Matthew 28:1). No change here, huh?

The biggest theory the world gives for changing the sabbath to Sunday is that Jesus rose on the first day (Easter Sunday). Even if he had, that wouldn't change the sabbath. Jesus taught that he would be in his grave three days and three nights. "...So shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40). There is no way Jesus could have done this if he died on Friday evening and rose on a Sunday morning. "And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun... He is risen; He is not here..." (Matthew 28:2,6). So much for that theory.

When did Jesus die and rise from the grave? The world has assumed he died on a Friday, because the bible does say it was the day before the sabbath (Mark 15:42). In this instance they admit to you that Saturday is the sabbath. However, what they fail to realize is that the Lord has seven yearly sabbaths (holy days) also. These high sabbaths (except Pentecost) can come on any day of the week, because they fall on a specific date. Even though tradition calls it "The Last Supper," Jesus actually died on the Passover (Matthew 26:2). The next day was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a yearly sabbath. "...For that sabbath day was an high day..." (St. John 19:31). This is why they kept referring to the day of Jesus death as the preparation. They were preparing for the feast.

Jesus died the day before a yearly Sabbath (the 1st day of Unleavened Bread), instead of the day before the weekly sabbath. This annual sabbath fell on a Thursday that year. This means Jesus died and was buried on a Wednesday evening and resurrected on a Saturday evening (three days and three nights). That's why when the women arrived at his grave early Sunday morning (while it was yet dark) Jesus was already gone. So much for sun-rise service on Easter Sunday morning.

The bible stresses that we should be followers of Christ. It also forbids us to make up and follow our own traditions. Jesus made a practice of observing the sabbath day. "And as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day..." (Luke 4:16). A true follower of Christ will honor the seventh day, just as Jesus did.

Although Jesus honored the sabbath, many people attempt to use his compassion to do away with it. If someone is in need on the sabbath, we as servants of God are not to ignore them. Jesus said, "...it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days" (Matthew 12:12).  Common sense lets us know that if a special need arises on the sabbath day we are allowed to handle it. Just as Jesus healed people and spoke of pulling an ox out of a well on the sabbath. Doing what's necessary on the sabbath does not do away with it. The sabbath was made to benefit man and not be a hindrance, "...The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:" (Mark 2:27). Furthermore, Jesus informed us that he is Lord of the sabbath, which proves he instituted it (Mark 2:28).

Jesus created the sabbath to benefit man, not only in this world but also in the world to come. Sabbath merely means rest and it points to the time when Jesus will give the whole earth rest (Lord knows we need it). Observing the sabbath shows that you are a believer, desiring to enter into God's rest. "...And his rest shall be glorious" (Isaiah 11:11). 

Many people will not enter into God's rest because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:18-19). Paul warns us to take heed that we are not shut out from this rest. "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (Hebrews 4:11). Many teach that we don't have to do any works since Jesus died, but labor is work. Obeying God's commandments, which includes honoring his sabbath day, is our reasonable service.

The seventh day (sabbath) will not be fulfilled until man enters into God's rest. "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, and God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, if they shall enter into my rest, seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein..." (Hebrews 4:4-6).

How will we enter into God's rest? Well one day to the Lord is equal to a thousand years to man (II Peter 3:8 and Psalms 90:4). Therefore, just as God worked six days and rested on the sabbath, man must work six thousand years and rest a thousand years. This is how we will enter into the Lord's rest. This is why we all should honor the seventh day. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection...and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Revelation 20:6). Why will these saints rule with Jesus for exactly one thousand years? To fulfill the sabbath day, and what a blessing it will be!

Since the fall of Adam almost six thousand years ago man has been on a terrible downward spiral. Some believe that we have been on the earth longer than six thousand years, but they have no proof to back up this claim (pre-historic evidence is only speculation). No one knows how old the earth is, because it was created "in the beginning" (whenever that was). Man who was created on the sixth day, has not been on this earth over six thousand years. When his six days are up, man will rest for one day (God's time) or one thousand years (man's time).

Since he was created on the sixth day, man will enter into God's rest on the twelfth day of creation (see chart page 7). The Lord told us that he centered his whole creation around the twelve tribes of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:8). This is why the whole world is bound by twelve. Such as twelve months in a year, twelve hours in a day, twelve hours in a night, Jesus even had twelve apostles. In the world to come, New Jerusalem is perfected with the number twelve (Revelation 21:10-21 and Revelation 22:1-2).

Prior to this day of rest no flesh and blood man was able to live a thousand years. Methuselah came close, but he only lived nine hundred and sixty-nine years. Why not a thousand? Remember a thousand years to us is one day to God. Furthermore, the wages of sin is death, in that very day. "...for in the day that thou eatest there of thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17). We cannot be talking about a literal day because Adam lived many days and had many children after sinning against God. Therefore, we are speaking about a day to the Lord. This is why no matter how close man came (Adam live 930 years) he could not live a thousand years (because of sin).

Over the years as sin increased life decreased more and more. The Lord continued to show man the limitations that sin brought about by shortening our years to one hundred and twenty (Genesis 6:3) and later to seventy (Psalms 90:10). It's probably much lower now, especially with the death of many children and even babies everyday. However, with the glorious sabbath approaching this will soon end, "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old..." (Isaiah 65:20).

The sabbath not only gives us an opportunity to become refreshed in the Lord at the end of each week, but much more at the end of time. Then there truly will be peace on earth and good will toward men. When the sabbath comes there will be no more wars and rumors of wars, famines, disease, and constant earthquakes. The prophet Job was correct when he said, "man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble" (Job 14:1). When Jesus returns man will finally be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor, for one thousand years.

To ensure this day of rest Jesus will have an angel bound the trouble maker. "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan and bound him a thousand years" (Revelation 20:2). Now the sabbath can begin. This is when the Lord's will will be done in earth as it is in heaven. "The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing" (Isaiah 14:7). Oh, that the billions of people who attend church on Sunday would understand the goodness of the Lord's sabbath, the seventh day (Saturday).

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9).

*One day to the Lord is equal to one thousand years to man.

CLICK WHEEL BACK TO TEXT LESSONS