The Seventh-Day Sabbath (also called Lord’s Sabbath) is the most celebrated Sabbath in terms of number of days per year: 52 days.
8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 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. 11 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
God started His instruction with the word Remember. That is because immediately after the creation God rested and celebrated the Sabbath with our first parents. The humankind knew of the Sabbath long before the Ten Commandments were given , but they have to be reminded now.
The Sabbath points to a past activity of God. It is a weekly memorial of the Creation, of God’s power to create. It reminds everyone that God is our Creator and the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Everything that exists originated from Him and is dependent upon Him. And that God is God and we are not.
3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. JOHN 1
The Sabbath points to a present activity of God. It reminds us that the creative process is continuing and that God is re-creating us in His image. It speaks of His wonderful plan for us, which is, from a perfect creation to a perfect re-creation.
The Sabbath points to the future. It encourages us to endure the process of re-creation, so that we might be restored to our original blessed state. God looks forward to the day when we would dwell and find rest in His kingdom, to feast and have fun with Him—throughout the rest of eternity.
ISN’T IT TRUE THAT SEVENTH-DAY OBSERVANCE HAS BEEN MOVED TO SUNDAY?
No, it is not true. The Sabbath has not been moved to any other day. Seventh day was how the Son of Man observed it (Luke 4:16). Seventh day was how the early Christians observed it for some 320 years after Y’shua’s death. Seventh day is how our heavenly Father has been observing it in His kingdom!
Why the seventh day? God did the creation before resting. He did not rest on his first day of work or at midweek, or on the sixth day. God worked for six straight days and rested on the seventh day. It was the seventh day that was made holy, God made it holy, so we must observe it as holy.
The Muslims observe the Sabbath on Fridays, from sunrise to sunset. The Messianic Christians, the Adventists and the Jews observe it from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. The Catholics and the Born-Again Christians do it on Sundays. But God did not say Saturday or Friday or Sunday. “Observe the Sabbath on the seventh-day of the week,” said He. Which seventh day? God gave the instruction through the Jews, referring to the seventh day of their week.
The Jews use God’s calendar. Its first day of the month is the New Moon, the day when the moon starts to reappear. The New Moon is the first day of the month but not the first day of the week, because the New Moon is not counted among the days of the week. To determine the seventh-day, seven days will have to be counted after the New Moon; and yes, it is the 8th day. Again seven days will have to be counted to determine the second seventh-day; and yes, it is the 15th day. The third seventh-day is the 22th and the fourth seventh-day is the 29th. In short the Seventh-Day Sabbaths of the month are the 8th, 15th, 22th and 29th days after the New Moon.
This April the New Moon is April 3. Thus the first seventh-day is April 10, the second is April 17, the third is April 24 and the fourth is May 1. In May the New Moon is May 3. Thus the next Seventh-Day Sabbath is May 10.
Given this understanding, we come to know that the Seventh-Day Sabbath is not fixed on a Friday or Saturday or Sunday. Last March it was on Saturdays, this April it is on Sundays and on May it will fall on Tuesdays. The running dates explain why the “high day” that John 19:31 speaks of fell on a Thursday in 31 AD. High day (also called “special Sabbath”) is a biblical term when two Sabbaths—an annual Sabbath and the Seventh-Day Sabbath—fall on the same day.
3 The seventh day is a day of sacred assembly. LEVITICUS 23
12 Keep it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. DEUTERONOMY 5
why DO the Eastern churches, CatholicISM and most of the Protestant churches observE the Sabbath on Sundays?
Sunday observance is a man-made tradition. It began when the Roman emperor Constantine the Great issued an edict on March 7, 321 ad mandating, “All things what so ever that it was duty to do on Sabbath, these we have transferred to the Lord’s Day.”
The edict renamed the Sabbath as “Lord’s Day”, moved it to the Day of the Sun, and legalized these two corruptions, making it demandable of everyone in the empire and its violation punishable with death.
The Catholic Church gave its imprimatur to the edict, effectively endorsing it. In 365 ad its Council of Laodicea even forbade “Sabbath of rest to the Lord” to be done on the seventh day. The Council’s Canon 29 states: “Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord's Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema (excommunicated) from Christ.”
To this day the church requires its members to “Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.”
Acts 20:7 has been cited to justify the church action:
7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread; and Paul spoke to the people because he intended to leave the next day. ACTS 20
It is presumed that the Sabbath meal was eaten and the Sabbath observed. But is the presumption biblically correct?
Given our explanation of how to determine the seventh day, it is possible that, on that particular month Paul spoke to the Christians, the Seventh-Day Sabbath fell on a Sunday. But then it is more likely that the verse is not talking of the Seventh-Day Sabbath at all. Don Esposito noted that Acts 20:7 was erroneously translated. The original Greek says “On one of the Sabbaths,” not “On the first day of the week.” (The Great Falling Away, p. 36)
Nonetheless, even if Acts 20:7 on that particular month the Seventh-Day Sabbath fell on a Sunday, Acts 20:7 cannot justify the fixation of the Sabbath observance to Sunday. Why? Because the Sabbath on other months will definitely fall on other days of the week.
“You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday,” said Cardinal Gibbons in Faith of Our Fathers.
“It is always somewhat laughable to see the Protestant churches, in pulpit and legislature, demand the observance of Sundays of which there is nothing in the Bible,” wrote Peter R. Tramer as editor of the Catholic Extension Magazine.
”The Protestants have continued to observe custom even if it rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church and not upon an explicit text in the Bible,” wrote Rev. John O’Brien in The Faith of Millions. (Ten Commandments Twice Removed, pp. 97-104)
Fixing the Sabbath observance on a Sunday acquiesces to the No. 2177 claim of Catechism of the Catholic Church that the Catholic Church can override the instructions of God. Fixing it on a Sunday is also highly inconsistent with the Protestant stand of sola scriptura—that the Scripture is the Word of God and only the Scripture, not the pope, has the final say on morals and religious faith.
9 You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. MARK 7
Many churches claim that it was more appropriate to celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday, it being the day when Y’shua rose from the grave. Is the claim biblically correct?
It is not. We have refuted the claim in our previous post THE HOLY WEEK PERPETUATION OF FALSE TEACHINGS.
Many churches claim that the Sabbath observance is only for the Jews. Is this biblically correct?
It is not. If it were, why else did God say in Leviticus 24:22, “You are to have the same Law for the alien and the native-born”?
13 Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. ECCLESIASTES 12
15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the Lord. 16 The same laws and regulations shall apply both to you and to the foreigner living among you. NUMBERS 15
Observance of the Ten-C does not stop in Isra’el. The Jews are called to live by the Ten-C and so are the rest of the world (Buddhists, Taoists, Hindus, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Catholics and Born Again Christians included).
10 Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? MALACHI 2
29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too. ROMANS 3
5 [There is] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. EPHESIANS
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd. JOHN 10
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve Him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship Him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to My covenant— 7 these I will bring to My holy mountain and give them joy in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. ISAIAH 56
ISN’T IT TRUE THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE NO NEED TO OBSERVE THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH?
It is not. Constantine’s edict and the ban issued by the Council of Laodicea give us two historical proofs that the early Christians openly observed the Sabbath for some 320 years after Y’shua’s death, or at least until 365 ad. The Acts of the Apostles made eight references to their holding sacred assembly on Sabbath: Acts 1:18, 13:14, 13:27, 13:42-44, 15:21, 16:13, 17:2 and 18:4.
How to deal with clergymen who DO SUNDAY, NOT SEVENTH-DAY OBSERVANCE?
A pastor called for Seventh-Day Sabbath observance in his church, even for feasting and Eriv Shabbat. But we stopped supporting him after seven months. Why? Mainly because he approved of his junior pastors and church members who did not observe the Sabbath. And because he continued in holding Sunday services to accommodate their disobedience.
Also, because he stopped the Sabbath meal. And he was fond of quoting Bible verses that could not be found in the Scripture. And he gave instruction to his junior pastors to focus on saving the rich. And he was caught lying on some occasions he was in a tight fix. And he would not satisfy the congregational demand for transparency on church collections and expenditures. And he tolerated a church member to prostitute herself in Japan, accepted tithes and offerings from her, and allowed her to pay for his apartment, saying there was nothing wrong with it.
Clergymen who teach and tolerate disobedience do not lead us to the realm of life.
29 We must obey God rather than men! ACTS 5
Many clergymen insist on Sunday observance on the pretext that their church members go to work on other days. That kind of reasoning is a fallacy and a satanic trap. No one teaches obedience (and no one pleases God) by bending His instructions.
24 The priests are to keep My Sabbaths holy. EZEKIEL 44
How to deal with clergymen (also with evangelists, teachers and writers) who bend God’s instructions? who assert that obedience of the Ten Commandments is empty legalism?
God’s thoughts are not their thoughts. Let us pray that they open their eyes while they can. However, until they do, don’t you agree that they must be barred them from the pulpit so that no one may be contaminated by their erroneous beliefs?
11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach. TITUS 1
16 Why should you recite My commandments? Why should you talk about My covenant? 17 …You reject My commands. PSALM 50
8 You have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble… 9 you have not followed My ways but have shown partiality in matters of the Law. MALACHI 2
6 Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as My priests; because you have ignored the Law of your God, I also will ignore your children. HOSEA 4
26 Cursed is the man who does not carry out and uphold the words of this Law. DEUTERONOMY 27
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instructions of the Lord Y’shua the Messiah and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. 1 TIMOTHY 6
9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. 2 JOHN
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a Gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned. GALATIANS 1
WHAT TO DO If YOUR church is not doing SABBATH OBSERVANCE PROPERLY?
Try to point out to your church leaders the need to observe the Sabbath properly. If they won’t listen to you, then it’s time to scout for a church that does. If there is none near you that does, put up a house church that will. Invite your family members, friends, relatives and neighbors to do sacred assembly with you. If none would, observe the Sabbath alone. There might not be a pastor to do it with you, but God definitely will be there; and there’s no better pastor.
How to observe the Sabbath is given in our previous post WHAT MANY CHURCHES DO NOT DO ON SABBATH.
Set an example that may inspire your neighbors to follow suit. Make a habit of observing the Sabbaths as God commanded. Observe God’s instructions in its pure form. Doing so is the only way for the dead to enter life. This explains why St. Paul wrote:
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on the Messiah… 20 Since you died with the Messiah to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules? 21 Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch! 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence [sinful desires]. COLOSSIANS 2
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. EPHESIANS 5
16 Therefore, let no one judge you by what you eat or drink or with regard to a religious festival, New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in the Messiah. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. 19 [Such a person] has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. COLOSSIANS 2
How TO attend sacred assembly and not be absent for work or school?
If the Sabbath falls on a weekday, most of us will have to go to work or school. What we do in our church, if the Sabbath falls on a Tuesday, is we gather Monday sundown for the sacred assembly . In God's calendar Tuesday starts on Monday sundown and ends on Tuesday sundown. By gathering on Monday sundown we are able to obey God’s call for sacred assembly.
Of course, it would help to put up a Government that understands the requirements of Sabbath and that will see to it that no Sabbath-keeper may be obliged to go to work or school on Sabbath days. Perhaps we can take cue from the Muslim countries. They have a legal ban on doing business and opening shop on Sabbath days. They also have a legal ban on employees being obliged to work and on schools opening on Sabbath days.
In the meantime that a legal ban is absent, let us encourage employers and schools to voluntarily observe the Sabbaths, or at least to let the Sabbath-keepers among their employees and students do so. (The Sabbath-keepers may be made to work and or study on Sundays.) Let us elect into public office only the Sabbath-keepers. Let us patronize only Sabbath-observing enterprises and boycott the non-observing. Let us group into partnerships, cooperatives and corporations for the purpose of going into self-employment so that none of us may be obliged to work on Sabbath days; also, for the purpose of putting up schools that will not open on Sabbath days. Let us build critical mass and pray for media support. Let us convince more and more people on how beneficial Sabbath-keeping can be. For if critical mass is attained, societal adjustment will follow.
15 [God] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them. 2 CORINTHIANS 5
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