He states this very plainly in Genesis 1:31"And God saw everything he had made and behold it was good." So no arguments are possible there. Its pretty clear. If we then continue on in Genesis 2:2-3 "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made;and he rested on the seventh day from all of his work which he had made. And God blessed and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Why is it here then that confusion sets in? HE mentions the seventh day twice in the verse I can only assume so it would not be confused.
In the above scripture it is made very clear that the seventh day is the day that God chose to sanctify. It states this again in Exodus 20:11 for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Does it make sense then that HE wouldn't care which day we honoured as the day he sanctified if he specifically says the 7th day?
More details about the Sabbath day become clear when scripture says that Sabbath ends at sundown. In order for a full 7th day to end at sundown it would then have to begin at sundown the previous day.
Joshua 8:29And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
Mark 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
Ok so far we know the Sabbath is on the 7th day and it goes from sundown to sundown but what day of the week is the true Sabbath?
The topic of Sabbath is mentioned in various scriptures which implies that God wants us to be very clear which day is the true Sabbath day.
Exodus 31:16-17 says this Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." When we read this scripture it is very clear that God says this is a covenant that was to be kept forever as a sign of being HIS children. You worship the one you obey. This is exactly where many will argue that HE is speaking only to the Jewish people because of the wording "Israelite". Scripture states very clearly that Gods people consisted of 12 tribes and that he called all 12 tribes collectively 'The tribes of Israel'. Once it becomes clear that only one of the tribes were called the tribe of Judah or what we know as the "Jewish" today it then lifts the blinders that have been placed over our eyes in this matter. The Sabbath is supposed to be a memorial of the amazing gift of Creation and every Sabbath we are to celebrate it! on The 7TH DAY! If that still at this point hasn't becomes very clear that it is not just a Jewish doctrine simply think of this. It was made in the Garden of Eden and given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:1-3 long before there ever was a tribe of Judah or a "Jew".
The importance of obedience to God and honouring his true Sabbath is seen in Exodus 16:4-5. It was part of Gods law before Sinai! Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. 5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. God placed it in the heart of the moral law in Exodus 20:1-17 specifically seen in Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Seen again in Exodus 34:21.God forbade any work on the Sabbath day.
It was commanded directly by the voice of God in Deuteronomy 4:12-13 And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. 13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
Exodus 31:18 shows how he wrote the commandment including the 4th commandment with his own finger And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Writing the 10 commandments that still hold true today with his own finger should show its importance to God.
He was extremely serious about ALL the "Israelites" keeping his Sabbath and Exodus 20:12-13 gives us an example of when God allowed the Israelites to be destroyed for profaning his Sabbath day. If not important to God why the punishment for disobedience?
Ezekiel 20:20 makes it clear that honouring Sabbath is the sign of the true God by which we know HIM not the false gods.
"and hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God."
Jeremiah offers a very straightforward message of Gods displeasure in Jeremiah 2:28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee?
let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble:for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah." 17:24-25 states the Jerusalem would stand forever if the inhabitants kept the Sabbaths as they were intended to be kept "And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; 25 then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. . In Jeremiah 17:27 was the warning which unmistakenly says Jerusalem would be destroyed for a violation of the Sabbaths. But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. and 17:23 "but they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear..."
If you are worshiping on a day that the Lord did not sanctify but rather choose our own way of honouring the Sabbath day then we are wrong. We will see how worshiping on the wrong day is actually paying homage to the pagan Sun God "Baal" mentioned in the Bible. Jeremiah 2:8The priests said not, Where is the Lord?and they that handle the law knew me not:
the pastors also transgressed against me,
and the prophets prophesied by Baal,
and walked after things that do not profit. , Jeremiah 2:23- How canst thou say, I am not polluted,
I have not gone after Baalim?
see thy way in the valley,
know what thou hast done:
thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
So who are the Jews then? Jews came from the tribe of Judah and were only one of the 12 tribes of Israel. They inhabited Southern Israel. "Israel" then would have incorporated ALL 12 tribes and until we understand this part, the rest will remain a mystery.
First how many tribes were present at Mt Sinai? In order for this conversation to be only for the Jews they would have had to be the only ones there. It was meant for ALL THE SONS OF ISRAEL- all 12 tribes.
We also need to make known here that physical Israel was not the small geographical location we know today. It originally consisted of Syria, southern Iraq, Jordan....
So who would have been considered Jewish at the time? The answer is the Southern Kingdom of Judah, Tribe of Benjamin and a little of Levi.
The Northern Kingdom were not called Jewish. Although they were not Jewish they were still considered an "Israelite" and this needs to be understood to understand the truer meanings behind Gods laws and his everlasting grace.Many tribes of Israel had turned their backs on God and the tribe of Judah held to Gods laws the longest but in the end they still fell away from Gods teachings and inevitably because of their disobedience were unable to see our Saviour Jesus when he came to warn us. Instead his own people had a hand in having him put to death.
It becomes very clear why He is upset with the tribe of Judah in Nehemiah 13:15-18
In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath."
Isaiah makes it very clear that the tribe of Judah and the returning Israelites in the end times are not necessarily the same people. Some of these followers of the tribe of Judah will convert and be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ but that is not what I meant. All of Isaiah 56 is a great read in this area but for these purposes lets look specifically at Isaiah 56:6-7 Also the sons of the stranger,
that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him,and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants,every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it,and taketh hold of my covenant;7 even them will I bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer:their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar;for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
**THIS SCRIPTURE IS KEY IN STOPPING the misunderstanding and THE DIVISION That the Sabbath is simply and exclusively for THE JEWISH. It is plainly put that All and everyone are included in his covenant and gift of salvation that honour his sabbaths and obey his commandments and laws.**
All the holy prophets kept the seventh day
What about the people that say that the law was changed and that in the New Testament we are no longer to hold to the old laws? What does the Bible say in this area?
Mark 2:27-28 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. This clearly states that Jesus who we all agree is the Son of man is also the Lord of the Sabbath. Does this not imply that we are to follow Jesus lead then on the Sabbath day?
In order to clear up whether we are to still honour the Sabbath, we need to take a look at what Jesus taught in this area?What Jesus taught us would be the key to what we are to do going forward. Luke 4:16 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.
John 15:10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Rather than abolishing the Sabbath Day Jesus taught his disciples and his true believers the importance and the true meaning and observance of it. Matthew 12:1-13
12 At
that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his
disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to
eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4 how
he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was
not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but
only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10 and, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And
he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have
one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay
hold on it, and lift it out? Jesus taught the disciples to do nothing unlawful on the Sabbaths 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.He summed it up with Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. He couldn't be any more clear that he was here to continue and teach Gods laws not change them.
What did the disciples teach about the Sabbath and the keeping of it even after Jesus's crucifixion?
Paul called it the Sabbath Acts 13:27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him He read the scriptures at public meetings on the sabbath days mentioned in Acts 17:2-3.
James calls it the Sabbath day Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Luke calls it the Sabbath day Acts 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
Remember the disciples wouldn't even finish preparing Jesus body because the Sabbath approached.This should indicate that the disciples knew how important and how serious God took the Sabbath day.
So there is no question from the scriptures that Jesus and his disciples kept the Sabbath day.
**Something most of us forget to plug into the equation when pondering the truth of the Sabbath is that no where in scripture does it mention that Jesus or any of his disciples were ever ostersized criticized or condemned for honouring the Sabbath day on the wrong day. For everything else they condemned him including dishonouring the Sabbath but for the reasons of healing or helping someone else. This should be included as proof that even the original Christians and Jews observed the same day initially.**
So what happened then?
On or around March 321 AD Historical documents prove that Constantine called the Sabbath day the "Jewish Sabbath" to cause intentional confusion and then on his own authority changed the day of worship to Sunday. This quickly followed into Papal Rome. By 313 AD Christianity had been legalized and then the mix of two Christianity and Roman paganism began. This is still what is considered most of the Christian denominations today and explains why they are deceived into honoring the incorrect Sabbath day. The Roman Catholic church in their own documents and records admit to changing the day of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday on their own authority.
The keeping of Sunday Sabbath is a tradition of man not GOD.
To understand Romans 11 which is key scripture on this topic, you must first understand the meaning of Jeremiah 11:16 The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
God calls his holy people the olive tree. Romans Chapter 11 speaks of two olive trees and the wild olive tree who is grafted in. This is exceptional news!!!
Ephesians 2:12 further explains how we were once excluded but now included to be an Israelite putting value in the covenants. "that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"
When we look at the comparables of Daniel and Revelation it starts to take on a truer meaning. Daniel 7:25 speaks of changing times and laws. The fourth commandment is the only one that deals with time and law.
Daniel 3:6 speaks of the punishment that comes with not obeying Nebuchadnezzar, 6:16 follows by Daniel having to be thrown into the lions den based on the King Darius' decree.
Since we all know that Daniel is done from the past and Revelation is what is to come in the future. It becomes clear what then Revelation 13:16 means And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
In Revelation 14 God makes a comparison between those who keep the commandments of God and those who worship the beast. Revelation 14:9-10 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb"
Isaiah 58:12,13 says after the Holy Sabbath has been trodden down "many generations" it is to be restored in the last days.
It is very clear that GOD cared in the Garden of Eden what day Sabbath was, he cared what day Sabbath was when his son came back, he cares very much which day Sabbath is according to the 1000 year reign we have to look forward to and he cares that we honour the Holy Days including the Feast of Tabernacles but he doesn't care in the present?? That doesn't make any logical sense. In the end we will all honour the true Sabbath and the Holy Days as God intended. We should all be unapologetic and unashamed to follow our Creator. My family and I are honouring them now and showing obedience by not honouring any of the pagan holidays any longer :) Hope you join us in this fight for God and the truth
I have gone from Bartender.... to Banker ....to Bible Believer....and I know now that a huge part of the plan of salvation is to restore our love for Yahuah.
Encyclopedias will tell you that Saturday is the 7th day of the week...It doesn't change and in over 105 languages around the world the word for Saturday is Sabbath. Its hidden in plain sight WE must take the time to look.
So now that you know will you follow Yahuahs law or mans law??
God Bless
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