What Day is the “Lord’s Day”? (Rev. 1:10)
Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:27, 28, Exodus 20:10, Isaiah 58:13, 14
- The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day.
- “The Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.”
- “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” God calls the Sabbath “my holy day.”
Which Day is the Sabbath?
Exodus 20:8-11 “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”
Luke 23:52 thru 24:3 Sabbath is Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
- Look at any regular calendar and we see that the 7th day of the week is Saturday.
- Look up the word “Saturday” in the dictionary and here is what we read: “Saturday: noun; the seventh day of the week, following Friday.” (The Random House College Dictionary @ 1973)
- In over 105 languages the word used for “Saturday” is “Sabbath.” Examples: Spanish is Sabado; Russian is Subbato; Italian is Sabbato.
The Sabbath: A Memorial of Creation
Genesis 1, Genesis 2:1-3, Psalm 111:2-4, Exodus 20:11, Revelation 14:6, 7
- Here we have the first six days of the history of the world.
- God especially blessed and made holy the seventh day. The Sabbath is a memorial of His creatorship. If all kept the Sabbath there could be no atheist or evolutionist for all would know there is a Creator God.
- He made His works to be remembered, and the Sabbath commandment in His law begins with the word “Remember.”
- Reminds us of God’s creation. He worked six days and rested the seventh. Final call to world to worship the Creator. By keeping the Sabbath day we acknowledge that He is the Creator and the only one to deserve worship.
The Sabbath in the New Testament
John 15:10, Luke 4:16, 1 John 2:3-6, Hebrews 9:16, 17; Galatians 3:15, Luke 23:56, Matthew 24:20, Acts 13:14, Acts 16:12, 13, Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4, Acts 20:27, Revelation 12:17, Revelation 14:12, Isaiah 66:22, 23
- Jesus kept His Father’s commandments and asks us also.
- Jesus had a custom of worshipping every Sabbath.
- We ought to walk as Jesus walked.
- Because Jesus did not institute Sunday prior to His death, it cannot be part of the New Covenant for Christians. Sunday is three days too late!
- The disciples kept the Sabbath “according to the commandment.”
- Jesus intended His disciples to still be keeping the Sabbath, 40 years after His ascension.
- Paul and his company worshipped on the Sabbath day—not only with the Jews but with the Gentiles also. (vs. 42-44). If Paul was keeping Sunday, he’d have said, “You don’t need to wait until next Sabbath. Come back tomorrow on Sunday. That is the new day for Gentile Christians.”
- Kept the Sabbath even when no synagogue. (Note: Luke writes ‘on the Sabbath’ not ‘the Jew’s Sabbath’ or ‘what used to be the Sabbath.’)
- Paul’s custom was to keep the 7th day Sabbath.
- He reasoned in the church every Sabbath.
- Paul said he declared all the counsel of God, but never mentioned that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday.
- God’s end time people are keeping ALL the commandments including the 4th. They are commandment keepers.
- When God creates a new earth and heaven we will still be keeping the Sabbath every week as we worship God.
The Sabbath has been kept from the Garden of Eden and will be kept in Eden restored. Nowhere in the Bible is their evidence that the sacredness of Saturday has been changed to Sunday!
Only Eight New Testament Texts Mention the First Day
John 20:19, 1 Cor. 16:1, 2, Acts 20:7-12, Luke 23:34 thru 24:1
- On “Easter Sunday” as it’s referred to, the disciples were assembled in fear. Matt. 28:12-15 tells why. They couldn’t be celebrating the Resurrection when they didn’t believe it had occurred!
- Paul instructed the people on the first day to “lay by him in store” (Greek: “storing”). Moffats translation says “At home.” Paul actually asks them to work on the first day (Sunday) storing up the things they collected for the saints in Jerusalem who were in need (Rom. 15:26; Acts 11:26-30).
- Paul preached a Saturday evening service (after sundown), thus it was the first day. (Bible reckoning a new day begins at sundown. Gen. 1:31). He ate, talked and when the sun came up Sunday morning, he walked all day to catch his ship. He definitely did not keep Sunday sacred.
- This was written 35 years after Jesus’ resurrection and Luke writes that they “rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” He doesn’t say, “the day that used to be the Sabbath” or the “Jew’s Sabbath.”
Mark 16:1, 2; Mark 16:9, John 20:1, Matthew 28:1
All mention the first day, Sunday as coming after the seventh day Sabbath (Saturday).
Predicted Change of the Sabbath to Sunday
Acts 20:28-31, 2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 7, Daniel 7:25, Ezek. 22:26, Mark 7:7-9, 13
- Warning that church leaders would arise preaching perverse doctrines.
- Paul foresaw the rise of the Antichrist who would try to be above God and said this power was already working.
- This power would think to change God’s times and laws. Only the 4th commandment deals with time—the one that begins with “Remember.” Spiritual leaders have violated God’s law and hid their eyes from God’s Sabbaths.
- We worship in vain if we follow tradition.
Why is Keeping the Seventh-day Sabbath Important?
Deuteronomy 5:15, Hebrews 4:7-11, Ezekiel 20:12, 20, Revelation 14:6, 7, Mark 2:27, 28, James 2:10-12
- It reminds us that we have been delivered from sin and bondage.
- It symbolizes a life of trust, commitment, and loyalty to Christ who has accomplished our salvation. We rest in full assurance of faith in Him.
- It is a special sign between God and His people that He sanctifies us.
- It acknowledges the Creator as the only one deserving of our worship.
- It was made to be a blessing for all mankind.
- If we break the Sabbath we are guilty of breaking all the commandments.
How Should We Keep the Sabbath?
Exodus 16, Leviticus 23:32, Ex. 20:9, 10; 23:12, Isaiah 58:13, 14, Nehemiah 13:15-22, Lev. 23:3; Luke 4:16, Matthew 12:12
- Prepare home and food on Friday so the Sabbath is a day of relaxation and fellowship with God.
- Sabbath is kept from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
- Not working on the Sabbath.
- Refrain from seeking your own pleasure so you can delight in God’s blessings. No buying or selling or commercial trading done on the Sabbath.
- Sabbath is a day for fellowship and worship in God’s sanctuary.
- Sabbath is a day for doing good to others.
