The Sabbath of Creation
It is of utmost importance to understand the history of the Sabbath in order to realize the full implication of the movements taking place today. The Sabbath began at creation. Along with the weekly cycle we still have throughout the world today, the Sabbath was created that first week along with all the plants and animals. It was as much a part of creation as anything that was created.
If it makes no difference what day we keep as the Sabbath, the beliefs of millions of Christians around the world would be of no importance. It is the contention of Seventh-day Adventist Christians and other believers, that it does matter which day we hold sacred. This study will attempt to answer some of the questions on this very important subject. Prayerfully take your Bible and a concordance, and do a thorough study into what it says about these issues.
Q – When was the Sabbath established, and isn’t it a Jewish custom?
A – As previously stated the Sabbath was created with the rest of the world, in the first week.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
Genesis 2:1-3
The Sabbath was made centuries before Abraham and his descendants.
“And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath”
Mark 2:27,28
The last verse answers another question. What is the “Lords day”? If Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, (and at that time He was keeping the seventh-day Sabbath) then the Lords day must be the Sabbath. It is also important to realize that the Commandments were in existence before given at Sinai, which is shown in the lessons of the manna.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day”
Exodus 16:28-30
The issue of observing a substitute Sabbath involves more than just the Sabbath but includes all the Commandments.
Q – Wasn’t the Sabbath changed?
A – There is no scriptural authority for a change of the Sabbath. In fact Jesus expected His people to be keeping the Sabbath many years later:
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day”
Matthew 24:15-20
Jesus gave us an example with His life, then He said, “follow me”. His example was:
“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”
Luke 4:16
The Sabbath was changed, but not the way many have been taught. The change was made back in the fourth century AD, and the change was made according to Biblical prophecy by the leader of the Roman church. (Daniel 7:25) This act they are more than glad to reveal, because by it, they claim that all other churches keeping the new Sabbath, by doing so, are showing homage to her. Notice this quote from The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, by Rev. Peter Geiermann C. SS. R, page 50:
“Q. What is the Third Commandment?
A. The Third Commandment is : Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
Q. Which is the Sabbath day?
A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.
Q. Why did the Catholic Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles on a Sunday.
Q. By what authority did the Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plentitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her.”
Contrary to what many good, well intentioned, Christians believe (many have been taught from childhood), that the Apostles changed the Sabbath, the truth of the matter is that Sunday as a Sabbath, is a child of the Papacy. Observe this quote from A Doctrinal Catechism, p. 174, by Stephen Keenan:
“Question – Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?
Answer- Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her-she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.”
Please read one more quote about the change, this one from C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in a book entitled, Faith of our Fathers:
“Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is the mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.”
There is no Scriptural authority.
Q – Didn’t the apostles keep Sunday as the “Lords day”?
A – Many use this text in 1 Corinthians to prove that they worshiped on Sunday:
“Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come”
1Corinthians 16:2
Actually it isn’t proof of anything. The offerings in those days were often products of the farm, and Paul did not want any gathering of crops or such, to be done on the Sabbath. The fact is that in the book of Acts alone, there is record of many times when the new Christian church continued to meet on the seventh day Sabbath, often with the Gentiles, as is illustrated by the following verse:
“And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God”
Acts 13:42-44
If 1 Cor. 16 were to be how we as Christians are informed that the law of God given on Mt. Sinai, by God’s own voice, and written by His own finger on stone, none-the-less, was changed, it doesn’t make any sense. Not only that but the Scriptures say that “God never changes” Malachi 3:6. And that God has no intention to change His law:
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:17-19
Some people think that this verse says that if someone breaks the Commandments they will still be in Heaven, but just in a lower position. This is no so, because the Bible says that sin is a transgression of the law, and no one can be sinning and stand before a perfect, holy God, and live.The book of Revelation says that the people of God in the last days will be keeping the commandments of God:
“Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” Rev. 14:12. Jesus said that “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:15
How can we wait for Him, anxious for His return, expect to see Him face to face, and live eternally with Him, if we don’t love Him? Satan desires to have the people believe they can be saved in their sins, when in reality we must be saved, from our sins. There is a difference.
Q – Does God still care if we keep Sunday or Saturday as the Sabbath?
A – Look at this verse pertaining to the people of God and the Sabbath:
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it [is] a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that [ye] may know that I [am] the LORD that doth sanctify you”
Exodus 31:12,13
The Sabbath is not only a day to rest, and worship, it is also a “sign” between Him and His people, forever. In the last days, the Scriptures tell us, there will be two “marks” given. One is the “mark of the beast“, the other is the “seal of God.” The word “sign” in the above text has the same meaning as “seal.” Those obedient to the commandments of God receive the seal, while those who choose to disregard the commands of God, receive the mark of the beast. The “sign” or “seal” help us to “remember” (Exodus 20:8) who our God is, and that we are dependent on Him for our sanctification.
Q – What day will be the Sabbath after Jesus returns?
A – “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD” Isaiah 66:22,23
At the time of Isaiah, there was only one Sabbath, and it is clear that the context of this verse is after Jesus returns. There is no doubt that we will be worshiping the “Lord of the Sabbath” on the Sabbath day He created.
– Conken, G.L. (2008). Appendix A of Dawning of the day. New York, TEACH Services, Inc
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