by Leonard V. Johnson
Turn with me if you will to Genesis 2. “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them were finished. 2) And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3) Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
He ‘sanctified it,’ meaning He SET IT APART.
Now, did God really need to rest!? Or, was He setting us an example!?
In Exodus the 16th chapter we read concerning the 52 weeks out of the year for 40 years that the Israelites had as an example of the Sabbath day being pounded into their heads over and over.
5) “And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. … 22) And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23) Then he said to them, ‘This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ 24) So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. … 29) See! For the LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place on the seventh day.’ 30) So the people rested on the seventh day.”
Now the commentators, like the Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary which states that Exodus 20:8 – “’Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy’” is “implying it was already known, and recognized as a season of sacred rest.”1 And, the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary stating, “The first is that God rested on the seventh day after creation, thereby making the day holy.” 2 In other words, a reflection, looking back to the creation – when God created the Sabbath day. He created holy time. And here its telling us to ‘remember’ in God’s Commandments that He gave to Moses at Mt. Sinai – to ‘remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’
Verse 9 – “’Six days you shall labor, and do all your work.’” – somewhat of a command here!? There are many people who don’t want to work at all.
Verse 10 – “’But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11) For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.’”
The LORD God commands that we keep the Sabbath
Exodus 31 – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 13) ‘Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I AM the LORD who sanctifies you.’”
Here we see that the keeping of the Sabbath day is a sign between God and His people. And that sign is the Sabbath day.
Verse 17 – “’It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel FOREVER; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”
Now, over in the Book of Leviticus, chapter 23, in the very top of the list of God’s annual holy high days, He begins that list with the weekly Sabbath day – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2) ‘Speak to the children of Israel [even the New Covenant children of God], and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. 3) Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation [a holy assembly of people]. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.’”
Was there a penalty for breaking the Sabbath?
Turn with me over to the Book of Numbers, chapter 15, and we’ll see that there was a death penalty.
“Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33) And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34) They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. 35) Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.’ 36) So, as the LORD commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones and he died.”
Now, does that death penalty for the breaking of the Sabbath day still hold today!?
Well, I remind you of the Apostle Paul’s inspired words: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” – Hebrews 13:8. The One we now call Jesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament!
So, here, a little bit later in the history of the nation of Israel, they were taken captive into Babylon, and were then allowed to return. And in Nehemiah we’re told there is indeed a penalty for breaking God’s holy Sabbath day!
Nehemiah 13 – “In those days I [the prophet Nehemiah, credited for rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period] saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I WARNED them about the day on which they were selling provisions.” – basically a regular flea market on the Sabbath day!
So here’s some historical evidence from God’s prophets of old – we see God’s command on Mt. Sinai of the Ten Commandments to observe the Sabbath day. Some examples – of even the death penalty being exacted – on those who would break the Sabbath day.
Now, what will happen if you observe the Sabbath day. What are the blessings? The promises?
Isaiah 56 – “’Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.’”
Verse 3 – “’Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, ‘The LORD has utterly separated me from His people’; Nor let the eunuch say, ‘Here I am, a dry tree.’ 4)For thus says the LORD: ‘To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5) Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off.’”
Sadly, it’s so difficult in our societies to realize the benefits of keeping the Sabbath day. He goes on with the fabulous blessings of even the Gentiles and the eunuch’s in keeping the holy Sabbath day.
Verse 6 – “’Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants – Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant – 7) Even them I will bring to My holy mountain [My holy Kingdom], And make them joyful in My house of prayer. … For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.’”
Indeed, if society as a whole would take hold of the Sabbath day and keep it – automatic blessings would come from God! It’s important that we know and understand this!
Again, “’’It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel FOREVER!’” And if you keep it – it’s not a burden – it’s a blessing to obey His voice and to keep it!
There’s a great many people who say, “The Sabbath day is nothing but a burden! It’s just laws that you’re trying to impose upon us!” The LORD God says, “’IF you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, 14) Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, …’” – ‘ride on the high hills of the earth,’ reminds me of the untold damage and death caused by the massive floods this year alone in places like India. God can bless you by causing you to ‘ride on high hills of the earth.’ “ … ‘And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken.’” God says it’s to be a delight, a pleasure, a joy, a time of refreshing, a time of thinking about Him, looking at His creation, at nature – maybe walking in the woods or in an animal zoo – considering and contemplating our Creator God and just pausing from our normal work-a-day week, from the stress and all that goes with it.
What would our nation be like if the whole nation actually kept the Sabbath day!?
Now, turning to the future. A prophecy concerning the future of the house of Israel.
To help learn just which modern nations are the recipients -
the physical descendants - of God's promises to Abraham, be sure
to read
by Michael C. Garrett
|
Isaiah 66 – “Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain [My holy Kingdom – New Jerusalem] Jerusalem,’ says the LORD, ‘as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21) And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,’ says the LORD.”
This is speaking of the Millennium. Now, indeed, I have learned over time that when God gives a certain thought, phrase, or idea, and He inspires it to be said again, and then sometimes even again, He really is wanting to get YOUR ATTENTION! This is not speaking of the “Great White Throne Judgment.” And, it’s not speaking about that time when people will come up out of their graves – as in Ezekiel 37. This is referring to the people who live during and in the Kingdom of God AFTER it is established by Jesus Christ upon His return! Talking about the Millennium!
Verse 22 – “’For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23) And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the LORD.”
Now, ‘the new heavens and the new earth’ is equal with ‘the Kingdom of God’ and is also equal in meaning to ‘the Millennial reign of Christ.’ They all sort-of mean the same. ‘‘So shall your descendants and your name remain.’ Now, it is unfortunate that the Worldwide Church of God taught – and many of its descendant churches continues teaching – that as time goes on after the Millennial reign of Christ, that human beings would stop being produced. Why!? Why did they teach this!? Because they simply didn’t understand the very Plan of God! Not really. The TRUTH OF GOD is that LIFE GOES ON FOREVER! And, the earth goes on forever!
Now, one of the great meanings of the Feast of Tabernacles is that God will someday ‘TABERNACLE’ in His tabernacle on the earth for all eternity! GOD THE FATHER is going to tabernacle with men! Again, the Worldwide Church of God taught – along with many of its descended churches continues teaching – that the earth was going to be melted down like liquid glass! A teaching which they most likely got from Ellen G. White’s book The Great Controversy Between Christ And Satan. God the Father is actually returning with Jesus Christ and will indeed associate with human beings.
So, just what is the prophet Isaiah speaking about here in verse 20 and 21!? He’s talking about THE DAY OF THE LORD! And it’s prophetically linked with a meaning of the Day of Atonement. “’It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles’” – see Ezekiel 30:1-3. A great many of the Gentile nations rise up against the nations of Israel, and greatly wound them, damaging them, destroying a great many people – and cause a state of captivity over the nations of Israel. A terrible day! And, it’s in the near future, and we’re simply not that far away from it.
“’All flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the LORD.” A prophecy for the near future – talking about the Sabbath day unto the LORD.
Another example – the prophet Jeremiah was instructed to stand at the city gates – a prophet with a Message from God – to WARN the nation of Judah of pending doom because of their sin committed against God in not keeping the Sabbath day. Turn to Jeremiah 17.
“Thus the LORD said to me: ‘Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; 20) and say to them, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates.’” – he was to stand at the city gates and make this announcement – this WARNING!
Verse 21 – “Thus says the LORD: ‘Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22) nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.”
And he goes on to say how they did not obey the command of God and of all the curses which were brought upon them.
Also, Ezekiel 20 – Ezekiel also talks about how they turned their backs on God and on His Law – the Ten Commandments. “’Therefore I [the LORD God] made them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11) And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’”
What about Jesus Christ – did He do away with the Sabbath day!?
Let’s turn into the New Testament, to Matthew 5:17 – “’Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.’”
Now, a lot of people say, “Well, there it is! He came and fulfilled the Law – therefore we don’t have to do it!” Well, let me ask a question.
Did Jesus Christ sin!? No, absolutely not! “ … leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, …’” He was the perfect sacrifice. So, if Jesus did not sin, then He could not have broken one of the commandments – and that includes the keeping of the Sabbath day. Jesus kept the Sabbath.
Let’s turn to some Scriptures for some examples.
Mark 2 – He makes an astonishing statement to His disciples as well as to the scribes and Pharisees that were there. “ … ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28) Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.’”
That was a most astonishing statement! Everyone needs to look at the Sabbath day as if it was something God truly intended for man – for his benefit! Jesus Christ was the One on Mt. Sinai that wrote with His finger His commandments. And, He said to the Pharisees, “’Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I AM!’” And, they knew exactly what it was He was saying! Because He was saying, ‘I was there when Moses said, ‘Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel … and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’” The very same statement! He was the Being of the God family that wrote the Ten Commandments. And, He was actually in the beginning with God as John 1 tells us, that created the original Sabbath day by resting from everything that was made that He had a hand in creating.
The Apostle John says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
Now, turning to the Book of Luke for another example here where Jesus kept the Sabbath day. Luke 4 – “So 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 to read.” So, this was actually His very first sermon that He preached in a synagogue – recall He stood up, took the scroll of Isaiah and read. Saying, “’Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’” This was on a Sabbath day.
Also, over in Luke 6:6 – “Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered.” – and of course He went and healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath day.
Also, Luke 13:10 – where Jesus had spoken concerning the barren fig tree. “Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.” So, Jesus Christ certainly kept the Sabbath day. Now, there is plenty of evidence that He entered into the synagogues on the Sabbath day and taught. He was persecuted for healing on the Sabbath day. Because the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees all had created this litany of rules and regulations of what you weren’t supposed to do on the Sabbath day. And the Sabbath day had become a burden upon the people. Which Jesus said concerning those rules and regulations, “’And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” They were not the commandments of God. God never intended the Sabbath day to be a burden. It’s to be a delight. And again, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath’ – for his benefit.
Let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s teaching’s. Did Paul do away with the Sabbath day!?
Turn with me if you will to Acts 13:14 – “Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.” So, we know that Paul kept the Sabbath – doing God’s work many years after the human life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Even long after the so-called “nailing it to the cross” which so many Protestant’s talk about. Many decades, Paul was still keeping the Sabbath day! And there are so many Scriptures which prove it! Now, he didn’t go and rent a building on Sunday.
Now, when Paul could have said, “Look, let us start a whole new church. And, we’re going to start keeping Sunday.” Understand, Jesus Christ was not resurrected on Sunday. He wasn’t! He was resurrected on a late Saturday. Now, many might say, “Well, the Bible talks about ‘the Lord’s day.’” The Book of Revelation talks about how John was in a vision. He was having a vision which revealed to him THE LORD’S DAY. Or, rather THE DAY OF THE LORD!
So, here Paul is going into the synagogue preaching on the Sabbath day.
Acts 13:42 – “So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.”
Now, Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong wrote:
“Notice what happened! The Jews left the synagogue, and only Gentiles remained. … What an opportunity for Paul and his men! Here were only Gentiles, asking the apostle to the Gentiles about coming together again for worship, and hearing the word of God preached, on the next Sabbath day! All Paul had to do was to explain to them that they didn’t need to wait a whole week—they could come back the very next day, our Sunday, to celebrate the “Eucharistic sacrifice!” Did Paul do this? Remember, Luke wrote these words about thirty years after Christ had ascended to heaven. There would have been plenty of time for the “custom” of “Christians meeting together on Sunday in commemoration of the resurrection” in those thirty years.”
(Armstrong, G.T., Why “Keep Saturday for Sunday”?).
With these Gentile converts, they met back the next Sabbath day.
Verse 43 – “Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.”
Also, Acts 15:21 – here at the Jerusalem conference in which James gave his sentence concerning the Gentile converts – that they were insisting they be circumcised. And here is what James says, verse 19 – “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble these from among the Gentiles who are turning to God.” – all the Gentile converts of Corinth, Rome, Ephesus, Pergamos, and Thyatira in Asia Minor. Verse 20 – “but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21) For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
So, James knew that these Gentile converts – as long as they commanded these people to abstain from their heathen ways – that they would attend a synagogue on the Sabbath day and that they would learn of God’s Law and His Way – over time.
In chapter 17, verse 2 – when Paul was in Thessalonica. “Then Paul, as his custom was,” – as his habit was, as his tradition was, “…went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” – so he was there for almost a month reasoning with them out of the Scriptures on the Sabbath day.
Now, the Bible does not say when or how the Apostle Paul actually died. 2 Timothy was written by Paul during his second Roman imprisonment in AD 64-67. So, for over 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul is still preaching in the synagogues on the Sabbath day!
And another, chapter 18, verse 4 – “And he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.” – now not only is Paul speaking of the Sabbath day, but in verse 21, he speaks also of the feast days – the holy days. “But took leave of them, saying, ‘I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; …”
Now, also in 1 Corinthians in which Paul is writing to the Church in Corinth, he said, “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, … but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” So, Paul fully acknowledged the understanding that, “You are supposed to keep Passover, and you are all supposed to keep Unleavened Bread.” And, the very Days of Unleavened Bread are pointing us to ONE THING – Jesus Christ! He is that Unleavened Bread of sincerity and truth! He is the very essence of the meaning of Unleavened Bread!
No! The Apostle Paul didn’t do away with the holy days. Nor did he do away with the Sabbath day.
So, what are the proofs then for the observance of Sunday worship!?
Let’s look at them really quick. John 20. This is a proof text for those which say that the New Testament is saying that you’re supposed to keep Sunday instead of Saturday. This is the resurrection chapter of John – the actual events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Now the first day of the week …” – now, surely, everybody knows that is Sunday. “ … Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, …” – now, Matthew’s account says, “after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn [while it was yet dark], Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.” “ … Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.”
Now, surely, Jesus died on a Friday and was resurrected on a Sunday – right!? Again, as I said earlier – wrong! Yet, what does the churches of the world teach? They teach that He died on a Friday and He was resurrected on a Sunday morning. And yet, Jesus Christ said, “’An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the belly of the great fish [or sea creature], so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’” And friends, if you go Friday afternoon to Sunday morning you cannot get three days and three nights! Jesus was crucified on WEDNESDAY, the middle day of the week. He died shortly after 3 p.m. that afternoon, was buried before sunset Wednesday evening. His body was Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights in the grave – three nights. It also was there through the daylight part of Thursday, Friday and Saturday – three days. He rose Saturday – the Sabbath – late afternoon, shortly before sunset.
Now, Joseph of Arimathea was eager to take our Lord’s body down off the cross because it was the Sabbath. And, a lot of people have misunderstood that this was actually a high day – John 19:31. So, we know that the end of Wednesday – when Jesus was crucified and He died on the cross – they took Him down quickly. That Wednesday night (the beginning of Thursday) was the first day of Unleavened Bread – a high day – a Sabbath. Then came Friday, when they prepared the spices. And then there was another preparation day for the weekly Sabbath day. And then, at the end of that day – it would have been three days and three nights. For late in the evening on the Sabbath He was resurrected! And then, as it began to dawn – towards the first day of the week before the sun rose on Sunday morning – He was already gone! The tomb was empty and the stone had been rolled away! Jesus Christ was resurrected the evening before!
And there’s another proof text. Acts 20. And, I want you to look at each one of these and see – is this truly proof from God’s living Word that is convincing evidence. And, friends, there should be no question of doubt about the day which we are to assemble together – by God’s words.
Acts 20:7 – “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, …”
So right here – ‘the Days of Unleavened Bread.’ And I want to add here – if you have a King James Version of the Bible, notice that the word day is in italics. 3 Italics mean that this word was not in the original manuscript – but good old King James VI had this word added. It doesn’t mean the first day of the week, it just simply means ‘the first of the week.’ It’s not signifying a church service. Now, some church groups try to use this as a verse to legitimize having Sunday church. And what they say is, “Well see, it’s the first day of the week and they’re breaking bread.” Well folks, ‘breaking bread’ is just another fancy word for a shared meal.
So, is this an evidence we’re going to use – concrete evidence – that we are to keep Sunday!?
1 Corinthians 16:1 – “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2) On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
So, is this an evidence we’re going to use – concrete evidence – that we are to keep Sunday!?
The Apostle Paul was simply making a collection of food, goods, and possibly money, to carry back to Jerusalem. This had nothing to do with keeping and observing Sunday worship service. And indeed, most commentators understand what Paul was saying, “Don’t wait till I come to try and gather all these goods together, go ahead, on the first day of the week, gather up money or whatever goods that you have, and have them ready.”
Also, last one, Revelation 1. Now, it’s humorist that there are so many Protestant’s in their attempt to give biblical proof to the concept of Sunday worship with this Scripture. Paul is having a vision. Verse 10 – “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.”
Now, so many go, “See, Paul was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day – Sunday!” No! The Day of the Lord is the same as the Lord’s Day. It means the same. The greater majority of the Book of Revelation leads up to the events of the Day of the Lord! And, sadly, most churches have no clue about the true meaning of the Day of the Lord. The Book of Revelation reveals just what is going to befall the nations of Israel (I think the modern-day recipients of the blessings of Abraham and his descendants include the United States of America, the United Kingdom (and their different colonies from the past and now – many of which are independent countries), New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa) and all of the people of God during the end-time trauma. Also about the horrible plagues which will come upon this earth because of sinning mankind and His wrath being poured out upon all nations! And all men are going to see the coming of God the Father and Jesus Christ to this earth!
So, let me wrap this up here – the Catholic Church indeed recognizes that the Sabbath day is a Jewish observance. And that Sunday worship is not a Christian observance. The Catholics didn’t want to be Jewish! And it’s completely funny that most Protestants don’t have a clue about that! And to tell you the truth, their attempts at proving that Sunday is the holy day of the week is truly pathetic!
However, God’s children keep the Sabbath – observes the Sabbath as a perpetual covenant. A sign between Almighty God and them. This is His identifying sign which tells Him who His people truly are!
God created the Sabbath day in the beginning. And He instructed His people to honor it, obey it, to sanctify it – because it was to be a sign between Him and His people. It is indeed a test commandment.
Friends, those that honor it receive great blessings. Those that disobey it are cursed from God.
So, ‘remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ □
Bibliography
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1 Jamison Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Jamison, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pg. 71.
2 Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Brand, C., and Mitchell, E.A., B&H Publishing Group, © 2015, pg. 1396.
2 Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Brand, C., and Mitchell, E.A., B&H Publishing Group, © 2015, pg. 1396.
3 The Codex Sinaiticus, written in the middle of the fourth century translates this verse: “But on the first of the week, when we came together to break bread, Paul discoursed to them, about to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech till midnight.” – Acts 20:7.
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